Major Milestone For Gay Rights: Lebanese Court Of Appeals Rules Homosexuality Is Not A Crime

In a progressive and momentous ruling, on July 12, 2018 a Lebanese Court of Appeals in Mount Lebanon as presided over by Judge Randa Khoury issued a new judgment holding that homosexuality is not a crime. This came as a re-examination of Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code (which prohibits having sexual relations that are “contradicting to the laws of nature” – an interpretation that many previously used to prosecute people suspected of homosexuality).

The Court demonstrated a serious departure from previous examinations of Article 534 which considered homosexual relations acts contrary to nature.

Given the procedural history and the appellate nature of this ruling, this verdict represents a milestone in judicial action and a powerful representation of judicial independence, especially considering that this was not the opinion of one judge, rather the result of an appellate court majority.

You can read the full ruling here.