Tunisian NGO Launches First LGBT Radio in Arab Region

posted on: Dec 19, 2017

SOURCE: EGYPT TODAY

BY: MOHAMED ABDEL MAGUID

CAIRO – 16 December 2017: Association Shams – an organization that campaigns for the decriminalization of homosexuality in Tunisia – launched the first Arab web-radio station for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community on Tuesday.

The new radio station, simply called “Shams Rad”, was launched in a ceremony held in Tunis on Tuesday in the presence of several human rights activists, artists and a number of members of Association Shams. With the slogan “Equality and Dignity”, Shams Rad became operational December 15.
The Dutch ambassador to Tunisia, Hans van Vloten Disselvelt, expressed his support for the initiative via Twitter, revealing that his country sponsored the project.

In May 2015, Association Shams became the first non-governmental organization of its kind to receive official authorization from Tunisia’s interior ministry.

Bouhdid Belhadi, CEO of Association Shams, said that the new station aims to reach everyone in the Arab region, not only in Tunisia. He added that it will discuss the political, social and psychological issues of sexual minorities, as well as music and cinema, according Maghreb Voices.

In Egypt, the penal code does not criminalize homosexuality, but it actually has several provisions that criminalize any behavior or the expression of any idea that is deemed to be immoral, scandalous or offensive to recognized religions. Most Egyptians believe that homosexuality violates traditional ethics and social values.