Meem (in Arabic م ) was a Lebanese LBTQ women's group, founded in August 2007 and disbanding in 2014. At its height, the organization had 400 members.Chaer, Nisrine. "Meem." ''Global Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) History'', edited by Howard Chiang, et al., vol. 2, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2019, pp. 1030-1033. ''Gale eBooks'', link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3662300234/GVRL?u=sain79627&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=ae072739. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
The full name is مجموعة مؤازرة للمرأة المثليّة, pronounced /Majmou3at Mou'azara lil Mar’a al-Mithliya/ (translated as Support Group for Lesbian Women). The name "Meem" is derived from the Arabic letter م. The letter "meem" as an initial for the word lesbian (in Arabic مثليّة pronounced /mithliya/) also symbolizes the anonymity of lesbians in the Arab world.
Meem was partially formed through mutual inspiration via the Lebanese LGBT organization
Helem
Helem (Arabic: حلم, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: ; which means ‘dream’) is the first LGBTQIA+ rights non-governmental organization in the Arab world, founded in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2001. Its mission is to lead a non-violent struggle fo ...
, though with focus on a comparatively less visible political strategy and a flatter organizational structure than Helem.
Aims
The group offers community support, psychological counseling, an activity center, legal support, social events, and the opportunity to work on social change. Meem hosted a Womyn House that served as an activity and resource center in
Beirut
Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
rainbow capitalism
Rainbow capitalism (also called pink capitalism, queer capitalism, homocapitalism
Meem published a weekly online magazine titled ''Bekhsoos'' with anonymous contributors speaking to MENA feminist queer discourse and translating English terms into Arabic usage.
See also
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Helem
Helem (Arabic: حلم, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: ; which means ‘dream’) is the first LGBTQIA+ rights non-governmental organization in the Arab world, founded in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2001. Its mission is to lead a non-violent struggle fo ...
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LGBT rights in Lebanon
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people living in Lebanon face discrimination and legal difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Various courts have ruled that Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code, which proh ...
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List of LGBT rights organisations
This is a list of LGBTQ rights organizations around the world. For social and support groups or organizations affiliated with mainstream religious organizations, please see ''List of LGBT-related organizations and conferences''. For organization ...