ISLAMABAD – LGBTQ community in Pakistan has been advocating for acceptance and rights, despite facing challenges amid conservative societal attitudes and legal restrictions, and now the office of Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad has been approached for a gay club.
A formal request for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) has been made to establish a gay club under name of ‘Lorenzo Gay Club’ in the garrison city of Abbottabad.
The application submitted by Preetum Giani called for a safe space for individuals of all gays to socialize, with strict rules against any sexual activities in the club.
Abbottabad Gay Club
It said” The club would constitute a great practical convenience and resource for many homosexual, bisexual, and even some heterosexual people residing in Abbottabad in particular, and in other parts of the country in general. Lorenzo Gay Club would basically be just a venue where gay people could freely meet, converse with, and share light refreshments with other gay people; it WOULD NOT be a Place to engage in gay for non-gay sex other than kissing.”
The applicant called it matter of the basic human right of free association, enshrined in the country’s constitution.
The development sparked new debate online, as KP region is known for being conservative tradition.
DC Abbottabad office has not yet responded to the application, leaving the decision on this matter uncertain.
Pakistan Observer tried reaching relevant authorities for comment but got no response till the filing of this report.
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