Kuwait dismisses LGBTQ supporter claiming to be a 'diplomat'

Kuwait declared that a girl seen holding an alleged diplomatic passport while supporting LGBTQ rights in a video clip posted online, does not belong to the Gulf state's diplomatic community.

The girl raised a diplomatic passport in the video, which was obtained when her father worked at a government agency office attached to the embassy, but expired after his duties came to an end, according to Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the ultra-conservative society, consensual homosexual relations between two men over 21-years-old is criminalised by Article 193 of the Kuwaiti Penal Code and is punishable with up to seven years imprisonment.

“The aforementioned girl does not belong to the Kuwaiti diplomatic corps and is not an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Friday.

بيان وزارة الخارجية حيال ما يتم تداوله في وسائل التواصل الإجتماعي بشأن تعليق إحدى الفتيات التي تدعي إنتمائها إلى الوسط الدبلوماسي الكويتي.

البيان: https://t.co/mSghnRSf0n pic.twitter.com/wcFAwitmtE

— وزارة الخارجية (@MOFAKuwait) June 3, 2022

Although no laws ban sexual acts between women, homosexuality remains a taboo in Kuwaiti society.

The Gulf country allegedly banned Marvel Studio's Dr Strange 2 movie earlier this year because it features an openly gay character – a move reportedly undertaken for the same reasons by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Kuwait also reportedly banned the Marvel film ‘Eternals’ last November, which includes a gay kiss scene – a move also undertaken by several Arab states.

However, Kuwait's LGBTQ community has witnessed a recent change of heart among lawmakers.

In February this year, Kuwait's constitutional court overturned a law that criminalises "imitation of the opposite sex", which Amnesty international said was a breakthrough for transgender rights.