Yes. The worst is when it comes from your own family. I am an Australian, I am proud that my mum is Lebanese and that my dad is English.

Homophobia:

When when your lebanese uncle threatens to throw you and your partner out of any family function just because you are there with your partner.

When your cousin’s Lebanese husband tells a whole lot of gay jokes at your expense in Arabic (in front of all your other cousins) so that you don’t understand. But you do get it. Humiliation.

When your gay cousins don’t come out of the closet and pretend to their parents they are straight, have kids then get divorced.

When your closeted gay cousin writes homophobic material on your gay choir’s Facebook page.

Yet I stand up to all of these people. Not by arguing the issues, but by going about my life without them. It’s not my choice, but the only way I can live with my head held high as an equal person in society.

- Paul Moore, a proud gay Lebanese Australian.