{"id":23734,"date":"2019-12-03T21:08:34","date_gmt":"2019-12-03T20:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ilgrandecolibri.com\/?p=23734"},"modified":"2019-12-03T21:08:34","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T20:08:34","slug":"revolution-in-algeria-has-the-colors-of-the-lgbt-rainbow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ilgrandecolibri.com\/en\/revolution-in-algeria-has-the-colors-of-the-lgbt-rainbow\/","title":{"rendered":"Revolution in Algeria has the colors of the LGBT rainbow"},"content":{"rendered":"

By now, it\u2019s extremely clear that, for news to spread, it must be presented in the form of \u201cinfotainment\u201d. We like witnessing chaos and seeing people being dragged under during a stampede. We like observing explosive rage, broken shop windows, tear gas being used, arrests being made, armed riots. News must be entertaining, otherwise, it seems bland and uninteresting, which is exactly what\u2019s been happening in Algeria. After over 9 months and 39 weekly protests<\/strong> during which, every Friday, tens of millions of Algerians took to the streets, to the sidewalks, to the bridges, to the underpasses and even to the rooftops like a docile tidal wave, we can\u2019t help but ask ourselves: is the complete lack of news coverage due to the peaceful nature of the protests?<\/p>\n

The Algerian people\u2019s exasperation blew up on February 22nd, 2019, initially against the fifth term candidacy of now former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Soon, however, the protests organized by the Hirak (movement) started targeting El-Issaba (the old regime) to get rid of all its collaborators, thus endangering the third try to proceed with the presidential election due on December 12th of this year. What\u2019s the position of the LGBTQIA community in this innocuous chaos? What expectations do they have from the candidates and the local society? We thought it would be interesting to interview the Algerian organization Alouen<\/strong> (which means \u201cColors\u201d) to learn more about it.

<\/div>\n

What changes are you expecting to see in the approach to human and LGBTQIA rights, with the end of the previous regime and the election of a new government?<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

The protests that are spreading throughout the whole country aim for the whole political structure<\/strong>, which is plagued by corruption and systematically violates the constitution and the Algerian laws, ignoring the people\u2019s will. The system in place has been able to get rid of all oppositions and to instil in the mind of our citizens the fear that the violence of the “black decade” of the \u201990s (Ed. the civil war between the government and the Islamic cells) could come back.<\/p>\n

Read also: Algeria: Surviving in a Sexist Society as a Lesbian<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As militants, citizens, and part of the LGBTQIA community, we became part of this movement to make a difference, to take part to the reconstruction of a constitutional state<\/strong> in which everyone can feel safe from all forms of discrimination, including those based on gender identity and sexual orientation.<\/p>\n

In all these years, how did you fight back against the persecution of the LGBTQIA community perpetrated by the Bouteflika government?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

First of all, we won\u2019t keep quiet in the face of institutional homophobia, we won\u2019t stop reporting it and, most of all, we won\u2019t stop fighting it. For years now the Algerian authorities have been publicly claiming that there are no homosexuals in Algeria. To counter these claims and contradict these lies, we made sure our voices were heard in front of international institutions and we pressured the authorities to change our homophobic and discriminatory laws<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

During the latest global review performed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Alouen was able to present its report detailing some specific recommendations concerning LGBTQIA rights, to shine a light on the homophobic acts<\/strong> that take place in Algeria and question the authorities who are supposed to prevent them. We are proud to report that Ramtan Lamamra, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, took note of our recommendations, whereas, in the past, the government had always refused to listen to this kind of report; we consider this as an important step towards achieving our goals.<\/p>\n

\"algeria<\/p>\n

Do you believe Bouteflika\u2019s successor will grant you the freedom to express yourself and will listen to your requests? Does the possibility of a return of the fears and persecutions of the ’90s concern you?<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

We have faith in the conscience of our people to no longer accept the Islamist doctrine<\/strong>. During the ’90s, Islamists tricked Algerians into trusting them after the facts that occurred starting October 5th 1988 [Ed. Starting date of the riots that, within a few days, had caused hundreds of victims, and which represented the start of a period of instability that would lead to the civil war]. But Algerians, today, remember how part of that party shed the blood of our sisters, our brothers, our parents, and our friends, and formed alliances with the government just to gain power.<\/p>\n

The Facebook and Instagram generation could be the one to change how the world sees Algeria and Algerians. Would the creation of an offline Alouen, to reach LGBTQIA people without a social network presence, be possible?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt that the Internet and social networks allowed our society, and many other ones, to open up to the world. It\u2019s thanks to the Internet that a large number of people from our community was able to found, in 2007, the very first Algerian LGBTQIA association, Abu Nawas [Ed. named after the famous homosexual Arabic poet, who lived between the years 756 and 815], and the same goes for Alouen in 2011. We have this communication channel only to thank for our ability to overcome the government\u2019s monopoly on information<\/strong> and, today, Hirak is the biggest example of this.<\/p>\n

Our organization can\u2019t be legally recognized<\/strong>, which means most of our effort is based online. This, however, will not keep us from taking local action.<\/p>\n

Read also: M-Coalition, HIV & Arab men who have sex with men<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do Alouen members know each other outside of social networks and meet at gay-friendly establishments?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

All of Alouen members are volunteers and have a private and professional life. We met on online forums<\/strong> and chat rooms and then gathered under a common goal: fighting homophobia in Algeria. When we are not engaged in our political activism, we meet in public with discretion. Being activists of the LGBTQIA community, however, never stopped us from organizing trips to every corner of the country to meet volunteers living in other cities.<\/p>\n

Large cities allow LGBTQIA people to live more freely compared to smaller towns, especially the ones in the southern part of the country, which is still conservative and very religious. How do you help people who live far from the larger metropolitan areas?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, our association is not acknowledged in any way by the government, making it hard to reach those areas if not through the Internet, which, for example, allows us to involve them in our awareness campaigns. Despite our best efforts, however, we acknowledge the hardships people living in small towns and villages must go through. We do our best, given the lack of public and private funding<\/strong> other than donations from our volunteers, to run online awareness campaigns on various matters related to the life of LGBTQIA people.<\/p>\n

\"uomo<\/p>\n

Do transgender people have access to therapeutic and hormonal plans? Are there any specialized doctors willing to perform surgery? What are the laws concerning sex change on official documents for trans people?<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, trans people in Algeria are the most discriminated ones. On one hand, they are not able to hide their identity like most of the homosexual community does, and on the other hand, they have no form of medical-hormonal path to follow or psychological support to count on. People who decide to take hormones must resort to the black market<\/strong> and have no medical guidance whatsoever. There is no access to sex reassignment surgery, and it goes without saying that it\u2019s impossible to change one\u2019s gender on official documents.<\/p>\n

The Alouen association is trying to build a network of LGBTQIA-friendly doctors<\/strong>, endocrinologists, and psychologists, to guide trans people and support their needs.<\/p>\n

Does the Algerian LGBTQIA community fear law enforcement agencies?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

We do not trust police and security agents, and we are trying to raise awareness within the LGBTQIA community, with the goal of reducing the risk of being persecuted or arrested by undercover agents<\/strong> browsing online and during stings. Luckily, the widespread use of dating apps made it easier to meet other LGBTQIA people but, on the downside, homophobic episodes are on the rise. Criminals hide behind fake profiles to commit thievery, assault, and even murder. There are no laws in place to protect us, so we are forced to be constantly aware of traps and ambushes.<\/p>\n

Read also: Italian LGBT Associations Denounce New Rules Against Refugees<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What are your thoughts on the act of coming out? Have you ever met LGBTQIA people who came out to their families without repercussions?<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

Coming out without repercussions is quite uncommon even today, but we know there have been cases of LGBTQIA people coming out to their families about their sexual orientation or gender identity and were met with acceptance from them, their friends, and their coworkers. We posted some stories about it on our Facebook page. Coming out is usually a huge risk<\/strong> because families, even the ones who love and support their LGBTQIA sons and daughters, find themselves under social, cultural and religious pressure, and they don\u2019t have a comforting answer to the question “What would people say if they knew?<\/em>”<\/p>\n

Compared to when Alouen started its political and social involvement, have you noticed positive changes in the local community of the capital city?<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

Absolutely! First of all, we are proud of having a real community, supportive and aware<\/strong> of their own rights and dignity. What\u2019s even more important, however, is how Algerian LGBTQIA people now don\u2019t have to feel alone or abnormal, as they would have even just ten years ago. The visibility gained by some famous LGBTQIA personalities allowed us to push back against certain taboos and open the topic to public debate, and to get closer to open-minded people, convincing them to support our cause. This visibility allowed us to stand up and fight against common homophobia, to try to change our society\u2019s mentality and soon \u2013 why not? \u2013 our laws as well.<\/p>\n

Lyas Laamari<\/strong>
\ntranslation by Tomas Mascali<\/strong>
\n\u00a92019 Il Grande Colibr\u00ec
\nimages: elaboration from\u00a0Wasssb07<\/a> (CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>) \/ Il Grande Colibr\u00ec \/ Il Grande Colibr\u00ec<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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