A talk with Philippe Aractingi, Carine Rizkallah and Bshara Atallah.

The depiction of Gender and Sexual Diversity in the Lebanese media often reverberates on stereotypes that anchorpersons and the public mock and laugh at. Ignorance, lack of education, or for rating purpose, few people manage to represent LGBTIQ+ persons in a "casual" way.

In his 2005 feature film "Bosta", Lebanese filmmaker Philippe Aractingi introduces actor Bshara Atallah, a homosexual actor who comes out to his family though belly dancing. Bshara is then seen whirling while flying a rainbow flag. Atallah will also play in another production the role of a transexual woman. A decade later, screenwriter Carine Rizkallah presents actor Chady Richa in a gay character in the Lebanese series “Albi Da’a” (قلبي دق) that was aired on LBCI during Ramadan. Toward the end of the series, Fouad, in an indirect way, discussed with his friend being a homosexual, and accepts a job offer in the Gulf to avoid his family pressing him into marriage. Both Philippe and Carine directed a character in a sober, disinterested way.

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