IDAHO Lebanon A Great Success!
The 4th International Day Against Homophobia was organized on May 31, 2008 in Art Lounge and witnessed the historic super-size rainbow flag covering the building on a busy Beirut highway. The 6-hour event included an art exhibit, testimonies about homophobia, a panel discussing homosexuality in university curricula, two film documentaries, and a dance performance. 62 Meem members and many of their friends attended the event and volunteered for various tasks. Meem also gave out flyers publicly for the first time in addition to outreach cards.
 

Counseling Program
Meem launched its counseling program last month with 4 professional psychologists giving 10 sessions per week. The program has so far benefited many members who have all voiced their appreciation of the almost free service. Sessions are being booked rapidly weeks in advance, so take an appointment today by visiting the counseling page of our website.
 

First Issue of Bekhsoos
Stay tuned for the launch of our Arab Lesbian Magazine: Bekhsoos this coming week. The magazine, a first of its kind in the region, will include reports, articles, opinion pieces, personal stories, creative submissions, reviews, in addition to Meem news and general lesbian news from around the world.
 

Meem in Amman for a Workshop
In an effort to network and support lesbians in other Arab countries, Meem organized a 4-day workshop in Amman with lesbian and feminist activists from the Arab world. Eleven Meem members traveled by bus across the war-struck borders to take part in discussions, brainstorming sessions, planning, and fun activities. While the fighting in Lebanon continued, the members were able to return safely to their homes.
 

Heinrich Boell Foundation Visits Meem
We were very happy to welcome the Program Director and Program Manager of the Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBF) Middle East Office to the Womyn House this month. Eight of our members met and talked with our visitors, who expressed their admiration with the work Meem has done so far, especially with the Womyn House. HBF is currently funding the publication of a book on lesbian stories in Lebanon, due out in September.
 

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News Bits

► One of Meem's founders has accepted an invitation to be an Official Advisor to the Global Fund for Women, the biggest independent women's rights funding organization in the world. She will be advising on all feminist activism in the MENA region, in addition to work done on sexual and bodily rights.

► A Lebanese and a Bulgarian woman are on trial for kissing in public in Dubai. Read the full story here.

► We've printed outreach cards which are now available at the Meem office. Our members distribute these at gay-friendly clubs, restaurants, universities, or pubs, in order to reach a larger number of lesbians. The cards only contain an invitation to visit Meem's website.

► Meem is currently handling asylum cases for three Arab women whose lives are in danger.
 

New on the Meem Blog

► The Silly Lesbian Experimentation Song
► Picture
► Sweet Death
► "Acid Nightclub" sent you a message on facebook
 

Website Statistics for May 08
www.meemgroup.org

Total Unique Visits in May: 2,909
Growth from last month: 10%

Song for the Season
Every few weeks, we upload a new "Song for the Season" to our homepage. This is a song that one of our members is listening to frequently and wants to share it with the rest of the world. You can submit your song by emailing meem@meemgroup.org