Inspired by pride parades in Amsterdam and Prague, Hadi Damien - the initiator and organizer of Beirut Pride - began planning the event last summer to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia on May 17. After years of facing stigmatization and homophobia, members of the Lebanese LGBT community defiantly raised their rainbow flags during the country’s very first pride celebration last week.
