Online Movement Seeks to Support LGBT Rights at AUC
BY ENGY ADHAM
It all started with an anonymous message left on the door of one of the women’s bathrooms on AUC campus on February 13: “In a world filled with straight people; I am a lesbian, I feel completely alone.”
That cry for help sparked momentum to create an online community, albeit, one that is anonymous to cater to students who are or have questions about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues.
The administrator of the AUC LGBT Facebook page, who prefers to stay anonymous, told The Caravan that the purpose of the online presence is to spread awareness about LGBT communities particularly because such issues are taboo and forbidden in Middle Eastern societies.
She said that certain things can not go unnoticed, is what pushed her to start off the Facebook page.
She added that her status as a psychology student provided her with additional perspectives into the traditions and norms of the society in which she was raised, and that these helped her in deciding to take action.
Although the Facebook page has 150 likes so far, the number of people reading the posts is around 1200.
The admin explains that people are following the posts on the page, but they aren’t selecting the “like” button for fear that their friends or relatives would find out.
Nuha Elzubeir, a Political Science sophomore, thinks the webpage will likely face many challenges.
“I don’t feel people at AUC are going to be accepting of it; however, it’s a good start and the Facebook page idea is good,” she said.
The page administrator hopes that the page will reach people to inform them that a LGBT community exists; however, reaching out to people who are opponents is not one of her aims.
“I can’t change your mind through a Facebook status,” she says. Is she considering creating such awareness beyond the Internet?
“Here in Egypt, we don’t have a law against homosexuality in specific; however, it is considered an inappropriate behavior,” she said.
She admits that her life and those of others in the LGBT community could be in danger if she were to go public.
“This is not my first initiative,” she says, “I created a secret closed group for the LGBT community but the drawback was that we couldn’t reach out to people unless a member of the group invites another.”
Eman Meky, a Political Science junior, believes that the Facebook page is a good initiative but that the administrators should be aware of the consequences; challenging the existing culture, she says, could be dangerous.
Nevertheless, the page administrator is hoping for acceptance and tolerance, despite the obstacles.
Biology junior Sara ElSayed believes that an Islamic country like Egypt will most probably not tolerate LGBT issues, the first challenge is likely to be within the AUC community itself.
“Yes, it’s scary … I might never see acceptance or tolerance, but at least I am participating; I am part of something to help someone to fit in,” she says.
She believes that many LGBT members face bullying and rejection from their communities.
“Homophobia in our society from my point of view is more social than it’s religious,” she said.
Nora Ghobrial, a Sociology junior sees the merits of starting an online Facebook page to support the LGBT community but she suggests that there should be a professional involved to provide constructive feedback for the members.
When The Caravan went to the Counseling Center to ask about information regarding the LGBT community at AUC, the Acting Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Support Office, Aly Mokhtar, said that the center does not specialize in dealing with such issues in specific.
Meanwhile, the page administrator says she plans to hold sessions for LGBT members to share their personal stories and exchange feedback.
