{"id":30302,"date":"2013-12-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-12-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/30302\/five-positive-things-that-happened-this-past-year-in-lebanon"},"modified":"2023-08-14T10:48:59","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T10:48:59","slug":"five-positive-things-that-happened-this-past-year-in-lebanon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/en\/30302\/five-positive-things-that-happened-this-past-year-in-lebanon\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Positive Things that Happened this Past Year in Lebanon"},"content":{"rendered":"It was a tough year for Lebanon, with the influx of even more Syrian refugees across the border, plus a mix of domestic assassinations and suicide bombings. But while it’s all too easy to focus on the bad, let’s talk about the good because believe it or not, we’ve seen some positive steps in the right direction over the last year, and we think they deserve some attention.

For a glimpse of optimism and hope in our cloudy, or at least uncertain future, take a look at these positive throwbacks to 2013:

1. Lebanon’s First Civil Marriage and Sect-less Baby<\/big><\/big><\/b>

(Photo via Naharnet)<\/i>

Two years ago, we all thought that a civil marriage in Lebanon was close to impossible, let alone a \u2018sect-less\u2019 baby. Kholoud Succariyeh and Nidal Darwish, with their beautiful child, Ghadi, proved us wrong. As the first couple to have a civil marriage in Lebanon, they are emblematic figures in the face of a country that bases so much on one\u2019s religious identity.

2. Lebanese Psychiatric Society Says Homosexuality Isn’t Illness<\/big><\/big><\/b>

(Photo via globalpost.com<\/a>)<\/i>

In July, the Lebanese Psychiatric Society<\/a> issued a statement saying that \u201chomosexuality is not a mental disorder and does not need to be treated.\u201d

The country still has a ways to go toward sexual equality. Article 534 of the criminal code bans \u201cunnatural sexual acts\u201d between two people, and is often interpreted to include homosexual behavior. Regardless, the Psychiatric Society’s statement was lauded by activists as a step in the right direction.

3. The Tomato Revolution<\/big><\/big><\/b>

(Photo by Habib Battah<\/a>)

The Tomato Revolution (Thawrat Al Banadoora) was formed by civil society activists in May in protest over Parliament’s decision to extend its own term for another 17 months.

Demonstrations were held with every constitutional council meeting over the summer meant to address legal challenges to Parliament\u2019s extension. At one point throwing, activists began throwing tomatoes at politicians as they showed up and departed from meetings.

4. Beautifying Beirut<\/big><\/big><\/b>