Hadi Damien

Born in Beirut in 1989, Hadi Damien is the initiator and organizer of Beirut Pride, the first Pride in the Arabic-speaking world. Arrested in May 2018 and placed in custody following the homophobic fabrication of a fake, sensational program attributed to Beirut Pride, he was released after initiating criminal proceedings against him relative to the organization of “events that incite to debauchery,” and that is still ongoing. In addition, he authored the multi-sectoral framework for the LGBTIQ+ file in Lebanon (featuring a 10-year plan that responds to LGBTIQ+ challenges). Member of InterPride (Representative of Region 18, CSIC co-chair, committee member), he also sits on the International Advisory Boards of both AllOut NGO and the Human Rights Conference of the WorldPride Copenhagen 2021.

Postgraduate lecturer at the Jesuit Saint Joseph University in Beirut, he designs events and communications for the private and public sectors and practices political communication. In this capacity, he lobbied during the Lebanese Parliament elections of May 2018 for LGBTIQ+ inclusion, succeeded in getting candidates and MPs to pledge support for decriminalizing LGBTIQ status, then authored the decriminalization parliament bill. He also wrote a bill for the national HIV response with 72 sections, including a large part about non-discrimination procedures.