In the midst of a revolution that witnessed intersectional voices speak up, Lebanon lost one of the most courageous trans women in the country. Suzy is one of the first trans women who went public with her story in a country that systematically discriminates against members of that community.
Suzy, short for Suzanna, first shared her story on LBCI's show Hawa Al-Horiyya a few years ago, documenting her struggle as a trans woman in Lebanon. She spoke about her obstacles on Al Jadeed as well and had her story shared by Human Rights Watch, too.
"I am a woman. My parents rejected me for who I am," Suzy said in a 2015 interview with Al Jadeed.
This week, Suzy lost her life after living on the streets, after being abused, and after a lot of pain. In 2017, she was hospitalized for a problem with her stomach. However, the reason for her death has not yet been confirmed.
The Project Coordinator at the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality, Ameen Rhayem, shared a heartfelt post following the news of Suzy's death.
"RIP Suzy .. you are in a safe place now, Where you always wanted to be.You faced a lot in your life. You slept on the streets, hungry, cold, in pain.. and yet, you managed to stand up and smile. And yet, you managed to survive in a country where you are discriminated against, in a community where you were only a joke because of who you are," Rhayem wrote.
Suzy was familiar with the abuse and trauma that comes with expressing one's sexual identity in a way that contradicts society's constructs. She grew up in Greece with her Greek mother and was a fashion designer who toured the world at just 18 years of age, the late woman said in the interview with Al Jadeed.
When her mother died, Suzy moved back to Lebanon, a decision she wished she hadn't taken. She was forced into prostitution to make a living because Lebanon doesn't recognize trans individuals and systematically discriminates against them, even in the workplace.
In Lebanon, one's identity is in the hands of the state. If a trans woman presents herself as a woman, she remains labeled as male on her identification card. Changes in her name or gender markers can only be altered via a court ruling. Worse, trans individuals are abused, shunned, and isolated — be it from authorities or family.
And that's exactly what Suzy had to deal with. She even tried to commit suicide, she once said, adding that it wasn't in her fate to die. Her passing brought about a beautiful conversation regarding trans individuals in Lebanon. May her soul rest in power.
"Despite your pain, you brought us smiles and laughs"
"She represents all the struggles of transgender people in Lebanon"
"She has left the world, a place that did not treat her as an equal"
"You're safe now, the fight is over"
The state of things for trans individuals in Lebanon
In 2019, Human Rights Watch - in collaboration with Helem and MOSAIC -documented the discrimination burdening transgender women in Lebanon.
There is no law in Lebanon that explicitly criminalizes trans individuals. However, under the controversial Article 534, which says sexual acts that "contradict the laws of nature" can be punished by up to one year in prison, LGBTIQ+ individuals are sometimes prosecuted in the country.
The law has been used to arrest transgender women who are "misidentified as 'gay men'," according to HRW's report. Trans individuals are also targeted under other laws including "violating public morality," "incitement to debauchery," and "secret prostitution."
Haphazard implementation of such laws and lack of protection against discrimination of trans women has limited their mobility in the country, as pointed out by several women in the report. Of the 50 women who spoke to HRW, 10 have been detained by the Internal Security Forces (ISF) at least once during their time in Lebanon. Nine of the 10 detainees were placed in an all-male prison.
