Coming out for members of the Syrian LGBTQIA+ community (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, queer individuals, intersex, asexual, and others) is a difficult and complex process, and it is certainly not straightforward. This description applies even to those who have left the country. But for those still living inside Syria, the most accurate way to describe the act of revealing one’s gender identity is that it is an almost impossible step.
Yet, some have faced and navigated these obstacles by using clothing and accessories as tools, details that created a subtle margin for self-expression and identity declaration for those who could understand the signs. In such cases, symbolism and coded messaging became alternatives to direct communication and explicit expression, although they still did not eliminate the risks.
For Syrian lesbians in particular, clothing appeared to be a form of expressive tool that reflected their identity and contributed to building a unique visibility away from the scrutiny of society.
In Code, There Is Declaration: Subtle Fashion Signals
Declaration! Because fashion has shifted from being merely coded hints to becoming a means of self-identification—a part of a secret language that sends a message to those who can decode it, without drawing the attention of those outside the queer community. Still, this does not fully shield individuals from societal or legal persecution. In a country like Syria, clothing has become an additional reason for stereotyping and various forms of discrimination, and in the eyes of the overwhelming majority, it is now seen as a threat to the patriarchal system.
And while some fashion choices have been interpreted as acts of rebellion and resistance against the repression of patriarchal traditions by society and its members, certain accessories such as multiple ear piercings, nose rings, oversized shirts and sweaters, wide-legged pants, sneakers, ties, or masculine shoes serve as subtle signals that may open a pathway for recognition and connection among lesbians in safe spaces.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that everyone who wears such clothing is a lesbian, nor that all lesbians follow this style. However, these fashion elements have carved out a place within a queer aesthetic culture, allowing for the construction of a visible identity and the creation of a sense of collective belonging.
Queer Fashion: Between Rebellion and Redefining Femininity
In the world of fashion, queer clothing has marked a clear break from traditional stereotypes of femininity. This is another reason why many lesbians have been encouraged to embrace it. Here are, for example but not limited to some of the most well-known fashion styles adopted by segments of the lesbian community:
- Butch Style: Entirely “masculine” clothing, including formal suits, dress shirts, tailored trousers, jeans, and sturdy shoes.
- Tomboy Style: Oversized shirts, sporty clothing, and sneakers.
It is also noticeable that dresses with structured jackets, and clothing redesigned to blur the boundaries between the “masculine” and the “feminine,” are part of the fashion choices of some lesbians. This is in addition to other symbolic elements such as tattoos (like the Pink Floyd tattoo), rings worn on the middle, index, or thumb fingers, undercut hairstyles, and multiple ear piercings.
For many lesbians and LGBTQIA+ individuals in general, queer fashion choices are not just trends they are acts of defiance against binary gender norms. These choices represent a redefinition of what “femininity” and “masculinity” can mean. It’s not just fabric that covers the body, it is a bridge between the inner self and the outside world, a tool for existence, and a step toward a more open reality where we can be visible without the need for codes, or even explicit declarations.
Shams Qasioun – Syrian Journalist and Writer
