Throughout the Middle East, the LGBT community faces intolerance and violence in a society steeped in traditional values and rigorous religious customs. However, with each new generation, progress is being made towards equality and acceptance. A new website, www.Ahwaa.org, launched by Bahraini activist Esra'a Al Shafei, is such an evolution. Ahwaa means "passions" in Arabic and the site provides a social networking platform where LGBT people can find their voice and support from others.
Ahwaa's primary focus is on closeted issues that are rampant in the Arab world. Recent discussion topics include the guilt that comes with “living a lie," "rape as a cure for lesbians," and "I'm Muslim and I don't want to have sex until I get married, but the country I live in doesn't recognize same-sex marriage." To make the site accessible to an international audience, all content can be viewed in both Arabic and English.
Members create a profile and choose a cartoon avatar to maintain anonymity as they interact on the site. "The site is focused on sharing stories and experiences in a platform that is safe from prejudice and abuse,” says Al Shafei. “We’re providing a platform for LGBT persons where they can voice their thoughts in a hopeful and optimistic environment."
Ahwaa has generated many positive reactions from people who feel that the initiative was a necessary one, while negative reactions have come from more conservative visitors. The site also employs game point mechanics. Users have the ability to mark comments with "This was helpful" (just as one can "Like" something on Facebook). The more “helpful” marks a person gets, the more they're trusted on the site and given access to more private discussions.
"The reason we implemented this feature is because although the platform is public, some people prefer privacy in expressing much more personal stories. Since the users exposed to their content will be trusted by the community, members can get more comfortable discussing certain issues amongst other users who have earned that same level of trust."
The ultimate goal of the site is to move from online communication to activism.
Al Shafei is a TED Fellow, whose success and recognition stems from her passion and conviction. She dedicates all of her time to her numerous sites, including MidEastYouth.com, CrowdVoice.org, and MidEastTunes.com. "I come across a lot of people who go through so much and just don't give up. I really like to create new projects with that attitude, especially because the projects that we are working on are actually beneficial to our societies,” says Al Shafei. “I'm also inspired by the kinds of people who support us as volunteers; they motivate me and the rest of our team to continue and keep growing."
Anyone can create a profile, join the conversation, and make a donation to help Ahwaa.org continue to develop and grow. To find out more about the site and watch the introductory video go here.
