The first official LGBT advocacy group and gay pride parade seem promising, but discrimination and imprisonment are still real threats
TUNIS – There are about seven organisations in Tunisia that fight for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT), but you wouldn’t know it at first glance: only one of these organisations openly presents itself as such.
“The other organisations didn’t have the courage to even try to get official recognition,” said 21-year-old law student Samy* with a smile, sitting in a smoky cafe in Tunis. His organisation Shams received official recognition last May as an advocacy group for sexual minorities.
Middle East Eye is an independently funded digital news organisation covering stories from the Middle East and North Africa, as well as related content from beyond the region.
