Beirut Pride
| Beirut Pride بيروت تفتخر | |
|---|---|
The logo of Beirut Pride, a playful mix of the initials B and P, designed by agency /lorem ipsum/. The letter P is made with the hatches of the original rainbow flag 8 colors that a solid base turns into the B of Beirut. | |
A rainbow flag flying in Mar Mikhaël in 2017 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Pride, Demonstration, Festival, Conference, Concerts, Exhibitions, etc. |
| Frequency | Annually since 2017 |
| Location(s) | Several venues in Beirut |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Years active | 8 |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Hadi Damien |
| Next event | 2025 |
| Participants | 4,000 persons in 2017; 2,700 during the first three days of 2018 |
| Area | National and overseas |
| Filing status | Non-profit |
| Member | Interpride |
| Website | www |
Beirut Pride (Arabic: فخر بيروت, romanized: Fakhr Bayrūt) is the annual non-profit LGBTQIA+ event and march held in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Established with the mission to advocate for the decriminalization of homosexuality within Lebanon, the event serves as a platform for fostering visibility, acceptance, and equality for the queer community in the region.
Since its establishment in 2017, Beirut Pride has stood as the Arab world's pioneering and singular LGBTQIA+ pride event, marking the largest gathering within the LGBTQIA+ community in the Arab world. The inaugural event attracted 4,000 attendees, and the momentum continued into the 2018 edition, drawing 2,700 participants in its initial three days. However, authorities intervened, leading to the arrest of its founder, Hadi Damien.
The subsequent day, the Beirut prosecutor intervened by suspending the planned activities and initiating criminal proceedings against Damien for orchestrating events deemed to "incite debauchery." Despite this setback, Beirut Pride persisted, with its third edition unfolding in September/October 2019. The fourth edition adapted to the evolving circumstances, transitioning to an online format in 2020. This shift was prompted by both COVID-19 restrictions and the economic turmoil engulfing Beirut, necessitating participation in the online Global Pride celebration.