Mahmoud does not live in Lebanon anymore. When he came back for his summer vacation, he found a more hostile country than the one he left a year ago. Coming out to his parents was never part of his plans, but hearing his dad saying that “all gay people have to die” forced him to make a decision. “It is impossible for them to understand me, so I give up, I don’t want them in my life,” Mahmoud told Al-Monitor.

Being queer in Lebanon is getting more dangerous by the day. That is why Mahmoud did not give his real name. Despite feeling safer in the European country where he now lives, he, as many other members of the LGBTQ community, does not want his identity to be revealed in Lebanon. “People are scared and activists are scared to carry out activities as they used to,” said Rasha Younes, a Human Rights Watch LGBT researcher in the MENA region.

Things were already tough for this vulnerable community, but an urgent letter sent by Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi on June 24 reinforced its fear and insecurity. Al-Mawlawi instructed the directorates of Internal and General Security to ban any gatherings aimed at “promoting sexual perversion” because they violate “customs and traditions” and “principles of religion.” Later on, the minister said the decision was a response to religious groups asking to his ministry to “reject the spread of this phenomenon.”

After the letter was released, many groups took a stand in defense of LGBT rights. “The United Nations is concerned about the rising hate speech, discrimination, and violence toward LGBTIQ individuals and organizations in Lebanon,” declared UN Lebanon in a joint statement. International and local organizations such as Amnesty International, HRW or the Samir Kassir Foundation gathered in the Coalition to Defend Freedom of Expression in Lebanon.