From the Shadows to Confrontation: The Struggle of the LGBTQ+ Community in Tunisia Against Institutionalized Hatred.

Tunisia on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Queer Struggle Between Legislation and Marginalization

May 17th marks the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia a global occasion to reflect on the struggles of LGBTQIA+ individuals due to violence and discrimination, while also highlighting paths of resistance and dignity. In Tunisia, this anniversary unfolds within a complex legal and social context, where structural oppression intertwines with serious efforts by the queer community to create alternative spaces that reclaim queer experiences as an integral part of Tunisian society.

A Law That Criminalizes, A System That Excludes

Article 230 of the Tunisian Penal Code remains one of the most significant legal obstacles facing LGBTQIA+ individuals, as it criminalizes same-sex relationships and transgender individuals due to the legal system’s refusal to recognize their gender identities, grouping them under the category of "male homosexuals." This legal framework provides cover for violations of privacy and subjects individuals to inhumane practices that amount to acts of torture, such as forced anal examinations, accompanied by public shaming and societal incitement.

However, queerphobia and transphobia in Tunisia are not limited to legal structures; they are deeply embedded within social institutions such as family, school, media, and healthcare systems. This intersection between legal and cultural oppression creates a general climate that perpetuates silence and legitimizes both physical and symbolic violence against queer bodies.

Spaces of Resistance and Paths of Struggle

Despite this reality, the dynamism of the Tunisian queer community over the past decade cannot be ignored. Queer organizations and associations have played a pivotal role in documentation, psychological and legal support, and the formulation of an alternative discourse to the dominant official narrative.

Alternative media, arts, and digital initiatives have also contributed to the creation of spaces where queer individuals can express themselves, share their experiences, and build cross-border solidarity. These spaces have not only become platforms for expression but also tools of resistance against exclusion and means of redefining identity and selfhood.

The violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals is not merely a series of isolated acts. Therefore, combating queerphobia and transphobia in Tunisia should not be reduced to calls for tolerance or acceptance but must serve as an entry point for questioning the power structures that produce this violence.

Violence Extending from State Institutions to Everyday Life

From interrogation rooms to newspaper pages, where state apparatuses exercise control and then reproduce violence through media campaigns that strip individuals of their dignity.

From educational programs and school environments to popular jokes, where generations are raised with stereotypical notions of masculinity and femininity, fostering contempt for anything different.

From religious discourse (especially sermons by imams) to official and unofficial political rhetoric, where queerphobia is exploited to construct a moralistic foundation for populism that excludes, marginalizes, and justifies violence and repression.

From medical diagnoses and psychological curricula to humiliating therapeutic practices and forced anal examinations, where queer individuals are treated as "patients" who need correction rather than as people whose identities and bodily choices should be respected. Some academic perspectives still advocate for "curing" homosexuality or classify gender transition as a psychological disorder.

From family structures to the broader societal circle, where queer individuals face expulsion, exclusion, or enforced silence to preserve reputation or stability.

From state policies to the silent complicity of officials, where the entire political system ignores queer demands out of fear of challenging "fundamental values" and "morality."

The struggle is not only about decriminalizing homosexuality or legally recognizing gender and sexual identities but also about dismantling the ideological and social system that views queerness and the LGBTQIA+ community as a threat to be excluded rather than a diversity to be embraced.

Dignity, Not Mere Coexistence

On this day, queer individuals in Tunisia do not ask for "tolerance" but for dignity. They do not seek "understanding" but full recognition of their citizenship, protection from violence, and the criminalization of hate instead of the criminalization of existence. Queer struggle is neither marginal nor elitist it is at the heart of the fight for freedom and social justice in post-revolution Tunisia.

Author:

Adem Mimouni

Queer activist and founding member of the Trans Unity Coalition Tunisia