title: Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health: Advancing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health in Lebanon.
abstract: Lebanon is considered relatively liberal, but Lebanese lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals continue to face social and legal challenges. Homophobia is common among health-care providers. Only 50% of physicians in a study were willing to "tend the medical needs" of homosexuals. Homosexuality is still perceived as a disease and the practice of reparative therapy is common. Programs focusing on sexual health are scarce, with only a few being LGBT-friendly. For Lebanese LGBT individuals, there remains a significant gap in access to health care. The Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH) was established to address this gap.
authors.affiliation: 1 Fraser Health , Vancouver, Canada .
authors.forename: Hasan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Abdessamad
authors.affiliation: 2 Bellevue Hospital , New York, New York.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fattal
keywords: LGBT health; Lebanon; homosexuality; sexual health.