Living in Lebanon after escaping Iraq because I’m gay — trying to rebuild my life from nothing
I never imagined that one day I would escape my own country just to stay alive.
I am Iraqi gay man currently living in Lebanon after fleeing Iraq because of threats, violence, and fear connected to my sexual orientation. Before leaving, I tried everything to survive quietly, but things became too dangerous after my family discovered the truth about me.
I left behind my home, my job, my friends, and every part of the life I knew. I thought reaching Lebanon would finally mean safety, but survival here has also been very hard. I have no stable income, no family support, and every day feels uncertain.
Some days the hardest part is not even the fear — it’s the feeling of becoming invisible. Watching the world continue normally while your whole life is reduced to trying to stay safe and make it through another day.
I’m currently registered with UNHCR and trying to continue my case while dealing with severe anxiety, depression, and trauma from everything that happened.
I don’t usually talk publicly about my situation, but tonight I felt exhausted and needed to let it out somewhere people might understand.
If anyone else here has gone through displacement, loneliness, or rebuilding life from nothing, I would honestly appreciate hearing your experience.
Thank you for reading.