Tunisia: gay politician running for Presidency

Sex between people of the same gender is still illegal in Tunisia and Tunisian LGBT+ people face numerous forms of discrimination on a daily basis. However, these obstacles will not stop the openly gay politician Mounir Baatour from running for President of Tunisia in November!
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The 48-year old Baatour is a lawyer and head of the Liberal Party in Tunisia. He has also led the many efforts to challenge laws in favour of the LGBT+ community through Association Shams (a LGBT+ organization). Now he has announced he will contest the Presidential elections in November.

It is a bold move to say the least, seeing as gay sex is illegal in the country. Baatour himself even faced arrest in the past. Baatour says he would stand for a more progressive and modern Tunisia in which the rights of all citizens are protected and corruption is fought against.

He said: “Tunisia needs a democratic programme that can include the different identities, cultures, beliefs, and languages of this country. Our programme aims to democratise power, strengthen the Parliament and give more weight to local institutions.”
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