Lebanese Culture Minister in the caretaker government, Muhammad Wissam Al-Mortada, stated that Lebanon is facing an offensive that, if successful, would have dire consequences on society and future generations. This offensive consists of a systematic effort by certain elements aligning with agendas of some entities working under the guise of "non-governmental organizations" to promote homosexuality and gender transitioning, portraying them as natural and as accepted norms in accordance with standards of modernity, social progress, and human advancement.
He added that the destructive impact of these malicious efforts is evident, especially under the major crises Lebanon is currently experiencing, such as the economic blockade, suggesting that there is an intention for this nation to lose its social immunity stemming from the remaining values, including the value of family according to its natural concept prevalent in all "natural" societies.
Al-Mortada further emphasized that Articles 9 and 10 of the Lebanese Constitution clearly stipulate the state's duty to respect religious teachings and the moral values derived from them and to prevent any teaching that contradicts them. It is known that both Islam and Christianity, in their various denominations, reject homosexuality, considering it contrary to the "creation system." He referenced the statement of Cardinal Bechara Al-Rahi, who wished for this expression to be explicitly included in the "Dema Statement" issued on 8/8/2023. Both religions call for confronting these phenomena to prevent their negative effects on society.
Therefore, Al-Mortada decided to organize a proposal for a "law draft aimed at strictly combating the promotion of homosexuality, encouraging it, or inciting it, hoping that it will be accepted by the Cabinet and referred for ratification by the esteemed Parliament."
The proposed law includes:
**Law Aimed at Combating the Promotion of Homosexuality**
**Article 1:** Any act that explicitly or implicitly promotes unnatural sexual relations (referred to as homosexual) or encourages or incites them, by any means stipulated in Article 209 of the Penal Code, shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of five hundred million Lebanese pounds. If the criminal act is committed by a public servant, legal immunity is waived, and they shall be prosecuted according to regular procedures, with penalties doubled. If the criminal act is committed through a legal entity from private law, the fine is doubled, and the legal entity may be dissolved or face one of these penalties.
**Article 2:** Any act that promotes the possibility of gender change or disseminates information directed at minors that leads them to desire to change their gender or sexual orientation, by any means stipulated in Article 209 of the Penal Code, shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of five hundred million Lebanese pounds. If the criminal act is committed by a public servant, legal immunity is waived, and they shall be prosecuted according to regular procedures, with penalties doubled. If the criminal act is committed through a legal entity from private law, the fine is doubled, and the legal entity may be dissolved or face one of these penalties.
**Article 3:** Any act aimed at promoting sexual assault on children by any means shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of five hundred million Lebanese pounds. If the criminal act is committed by a public servant, legal immunity is waived, and they shall be prosecuted according to regular procedures, with penalties doubled. If the criminal act is committed through a legal entity from private law, the fine is doubled, and the legal entity may be dissolved or face one of these penalties.
**Article 4:** This law applies to all natural or legal persons, and prosecution shall proceed before the ordinary criminal judiciary in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.
**Article 5:** This law shall be published immediately in the official gazette and shall be enforced.
**Article 6:** All texts that contradict the provisions of this law are repealed.
