A Lebanese hairdresser opened up a salon to accommodate the country’s LGBT community, after hearing of her brothers’ years of struggle as a gay man.

Kim Mouawad, the owner of Out Beauty Boutique, said she launched the salon to ease the lives of those facing discrimination and judgement across the country.

"Before opening Out, many of my friends from the LGBTQ community told me that getting certain things done were extremely awkward. They often felt judged and were sometimes refused service. Many salons in Lebanon will not wax men or offer nail extension or polish services," Mouawad told StepFeed.

Despite Lebanon’s general westernised worldview, it remains a climate where LGBTQ+ activism is institutionally shut down - homosexuality is an offence and those caught engaging in the act face up to one year in prison. Read more via The New Arab