The Evolution of Media Representing Syria’s LGBTQIA+ Community
In Syria, silence has never simply been a personal choice, it was a state-imposed cultural and media policy. For decades, queer Syrians were rendered invisible: ignored by the press, criminalized by the authorities, and avoided by society. But that long-standing silence began to crack with the rise of digital spaces, and a new generation emerged, […]
Mob Bullying: Tens of Young Men Harass a Transgender Woman in Damascus
Over the past two days, a video showing tens of young men in Damascus, Syria, chasing and swarming a transgender woman has been circulating widely on social media. The incident took place less than a week ago in one of Damascus’s well-known parks. It has sparked outrage among some segments of Syrian society due to […]
As-Suwayda Under Fire: Escalating Humanitarian Crisis and Human Rights Implications for the Most Vulnerable
Issued by: Guardians of Equality Movement – For Social and civil rights of the Syrian LGBTQIA+ Community in the Face of Conflict and Crisis Date of Issue: July 20, 2025 Introduction and General Context Since July 13, 2025, As-Suwayda governorate in southern Syria has entered an unprecedented phase of security escalation following violent clashes between […]
Syrian and Turkish Wildfires: An Environmental Catastrophe Deepening Social Vulnerability
Issued by: Guardians of Equality Movement (GEM), for Environmental and Social Justice for the LGBTQIA+ Community in SyriaDate: July 5, 2025 1. Introduction and Context While both Syria and Turkey are attempting to recover from successive disasters most notably the February 2023 earthquake that left thousands dead, injured, and displaced, and caused massive destruction to […]
LGBTQIA+ individuals in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime
Executive Summary: The challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in Syria surpass those encountered by this community in other countries. Wars and conflicts have led to increased violence, repressive legislation, and social stigma. Therefore, empowerment projects play a vital role in supporting these individuals by aiming to improve their financial, professional, and educational status, enhance psychological […]
Syrian coast crisis: displacement continues despite war’s end.
The repercussions of the escalation on the Syrian coast are still ongoing. Earlier this month, the region witnessed military clashes marked by severe violations against civilians. The violence erupted on March 5 when remnants of the former regime launched attacks against internal security forces of the current Syrian government in Latakia and Tartus. The situation […]
On Women’s Day: How LGBTQIA+ and Women’s Struggles Intersect in Syria
There are unmistakable threads connecting us! The struggle is against a system that forces everyone to be a copy of the same mold—a system that fears our departure from the norms of “hegemonic masculinity” or “submissive femininity.” Just as women fight not to be reduced to a body or a narrow social role, LGBTQIA+ individuals […]
Unheard Voices 2: The LGBTQIA+ Community in Syria and Leading the “Frontlines of the Revolution”
One of the most fascinating paradoxes (to me) in our reports “Unheard Voices” is that the protagonists of these stories—those often seen as the weakest and most vulnerable groups in society—turned out to be the exact opposite in reality. Gender identity was not a barrier for many of them—members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Syria—to […]
Gender, Identity, and the Syrian Revolution: Untold stories!
In the quest to uncover unheard voices and profound human stories that reflect the diversity of revolutionary movements against the Syrian regime in 2011—a diversity that included members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Syria—I had the opportunity, over the years of the revolution, to closely interact with many of these individuals. They did not hesitate […]
Syrian Valentine’s Day: The Oldest Celebration of Love in the World
Many believe that the oldest celebration of Valentine’s Day dates back to ancient Roman times with what is known as Saint Valentine’s Day, given its global fame. However, this is not true. The ancient Syrians were actually the first to celebrate a Day of Love in the world! The origin of the story goes back […]
