The Lebanese American University (LAU) just hosted the country’s first ever queer fashion show.

On Thursday (26 October), fashion design student Aniss Ezzedine featured gender fluid designs, blurring the line between masculinity and femininity. He said his fashion show is likely the first queer fashion show in Lebanon.

Homosexuality is still technically illegal in Lebanon, with a strong social stigma among the general population. Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code prohibits having sexual relations that ‘contradict the laws of nature,’ although convictions are rare.

But Ezzedine wasn’t fazed.

‘I wasn’t scared about the negative feedback,’ he told Gay Star News. ‘I think Article 534 is a disgrace to humanity.

‘We should all be working to erase it out of our lives,’ he said.

This fashion show certainly stirs up controversy.

It features male models in mesh tops and leather skirts, as well as female models in typically ‘masculine’ attire. There were also a variety of LGBTI people in the show, including a transsexual model and androgynous model, as well as bisexual and gay models, reports Stepfeed.

The collection is about gender equality, sexual orientation and women’s rights, says Ezzedine.

He said: ‘I wanted to make garments that are simple, yet give the model wearing them sass, power, a strong identity and to show the true identity of the queer community.

‘Of course, I found a lot of people disliking the idea of it just for promoting equality. But we have to start somewhere,’ he said.

‘My idea of fashion is to always deliver a message’

Aniss Ezzedine hopes to empower people to be free to express who they are.

Each garment and even the choice of fabrics was meticulously planned.

He told Gay Star News: ‘The colors were dark to show that all people suffering from gender equality.

‘The use of fabric plays a big role too. The real leather, the snake leather, the fake leather – it’s the different faces and masks we wear to hide from society.

‘The see-through and mesh fabrics encourage everyone to be who they really are. Be transparent and be proud of it,’ he added.

As for what’s next, Ezzedine wants to keep pushing the boundaries for equality.

‘I think I will definitely be working more and more on this topic,’ he said. ‘Especially because it’s a subject that really affects me emotionally.’

He added: ‘It is time people here start going out of their houses free to be whoever they want, happy and proud of who they are.’