Picture taken by Ralph Haddad
I was never a big fan of Mashrou’ Leila and I got really pissed off when they cancelled their opening act for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I totally condemn the attempts to stop the band from performing in Zouk Mikael and the disrespectful comments that emerged in the past few days. I have no idea who Fouad el Adem is, but neither him nor anyone have the right to stop the band from performing because their lead singer is homosexual. If they don’t like the band, they can easily stay home and boycott the event, but there’s no need to spread hate and spoil the town’s festival.
The posts that emerged are quite shameful and even though the first post was apparently deleted, and Adem clarified today that he never intended to block any roads or do any demonstrations to stop the band from performing, that didn’t stop him from making a very lame gay joke. I don’t even know where to start with these comments. All I have to say is that Mashrou3 Leila is a band and that music is an art that is appreciated for what it is, not based on the artist’s sexual orientation.
We need people in charge to fight homophobia not encourage it, and the only way our society will evolve is by accepting each other. On a last note, and since most of those who are against the band referred to the Church and to religious terms to attack the organizers and Mashrou3 Leila, I ask them to read what Pope Francis said about LGBT and how the Church must accept them with respect and compassion.
This being said, I am going now to buy tickets for the Mashrou’ Leila act if they are still available and attend tomorrow and I am sure the Zouk Roman amphitheater will be packed and the Light FM 25 Years concert will be a complete success!
See you all there!
PS: You can buy the tickets [Here].
Not once did Jesus Christ comment or condemn homosexuals.
He came to fulfill the old testament and taught his followers to forgive and turn the other cheek rather than the old testament’s teaching’s of “an eye for an eye”.
Many large Christian churches such as the Episcopal church in the USA and all over the world have embraced gays with love and unconditional acceptance. Furthermore, religion of any denomination is a personal choice not to be forced on others who do not share in the same ideologies.
Just the same as It is not right Muslims to force non Muslims to adhere to Ramadan’s observance.
We all should be free to believe in our own truths.
I was really sad and pisst off when I read about this on social media. I am from Zouk Mikael and I live there too trust me nobody has got a clue about this guy. I actually had no idea about this till I saw articles today on social media. I was really embarassed I feel like he made us all look like a bunch of ignorant hillbillies. I do hope he will not make further disgusting comments or try to do something tomorrow and if he did I hope he will be stopped. I am not a fan of Mashrou3 Leila I too did not like the fact that they cancelled on Red Hot Chili Peppers I think music should not interfere with anything other than music but I am against anyone trying to ban them from coming to our town and perform. Hopefully they will have a packed successful concert.
Why it’s okey to be openly gay while being openly anti gay is such a horrific crime?! It’s a opinion that he is free to express just as others are showing their support! And since the example of civilized Europe and USA always comes up, you can find plenty of citizens in european countries and the states who are openly anti gays and they are free to express it!
Anthony,
Did you bother read what I said? You can be anti-gay but oppose gay rights but to make gay jokes and call them half men is not acceptable. This is not freedom of expression at all.
shuu hal rijjel enta ya fufu..
enno uufffff..
Many of us have still not embraced the very concept of ‘gays’ in our country, but we like Mashrou3 Leila for their amazing tunes and captivating lyrics, not Hamed Sinno’s orientation! Why should we be proud of trash artists (males and females alike) with suspicious sources of wealth, and not a band that has sold out concerts all over the world?
This is awkward but the photo for this is the same one I used for my McGill Daily interview with Mashrou’ Leila. Can you please give a credit for it here? here’s the piece btw http://www.mcgilldaily.com/2013/10/masrou-leila-makes-it-big/
also, I totally agree.
Thanks Ralph for that. I found it on another website that had no credit or mentions. I added you 🙂
Great pic by the way!
This reminds me of when ellen degeneres came out a few years back, she was boycott, treated so cruelly. People tend to forget that they are still human beings. But look at her today she is one of the most genuine, funny, successful, compassionate loving person in the world of show business and that’s rare in the states. She reminds them every day that gay people are still people just like everyone else. We fear them on lebanon because partly we are ignorants and partly they are represented the wrong way by the wrong people. That’s what ellen does for the states she represents a very beautiful normal image of a compassionate person regardless of her sexual choices or orientations. It’s none of our business as long as she’s respectful.
And Anthony! Your commen is what triggered me to comment myself, dear dear Anthony, there is no problem in opposing whatever you would like to oppose but with class and integrity, not by being mean, hurtful or judgemental. here’s a quote for you “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” By Aristotle.
See what mr Adem said and more specifically HOW he expressed it does not show any education and respect for basic human rights. Did the lead singer’s sexual orientation affect his music before he came out? No. Was he disrespectful in any way? No. Didn’t he have a fan bass? Yes! Nothing has changed he still makes music, still is a respectful artist whose talent is recognized worlwide.
That being sad, I respect this guy (even though I don’t know him) he had the courage to come out in a society like ours. This society needs a good reminder that gay people are just normal people and they are falsely represented.
Cheers to your courageous move! respect.
El 7al romanseh: let’s all show up to the festival in support of Leila w mashrou3a.