A national survey launched by Lebanon’s Ministry of Education has stirred widespread public and parliamentary outcry after including a third gender option alongside the traditional “male” and “female” choices. The added option allowed students to opt out of specifying their gender—prompting immediate backlash from conservative lawmakers and parts of Lebanese society.
The first political response came from MP Edgar Traboulsi, a member of the parliamentary Education and Culture Committee, who bluntly criticized the initiative. Speaking to Al Safa News, Traboulsi rejected what he described as “a violation of the natural and moral order,” arguing that such initiatives threaten Lebanon’s societal foundations.
Minister Acknowledges Responsibility
According to Traboulsi, current Education Minister Rima Karami admitted to being behind the form’s creation during a recent exchange. While she confirmed that the form was promptly withdrawn in response to objections, the MP insisted the issue transcends a single form and reflects deeper attempts to introduce controversial concepts into the education system.
“This is not just a personal stance,” Traboulsi said, “it’s a position taken in the name of the Lebanese people—of families from all faiths—who uphold the moral and cultural values that define our society.” He called for a firm stance to prevent similar future attempts, whether through curriculum changes, summer programs, or training workshops that might serve as vehicles for such ideas.
Defending “Natural Law”
Traboulsi went on to argue that incorporating terms like “third gender” or “prefer not to say” into educational materials promotes gender ideologies that clash with Lebanon’s religious and cultural identity. He rooted his opposition in both religious and philosophical grounds, urging policymakers to preserve the moral and cultural fabric passed down to future generations.
“Education Is Not an Ideological Playground”
“This is not an administrative footnote,” Traboulsi asserted, “but a warning sign of a larger effort to inject imported ideologies into the core of our educational framework.” He stressed that schools should not become a testing ground for foreign concepts that challenge Lebanon’s established values. With support from wide swaths of Lebanese society, he hopes this incident serves as a wake-up call to block similar initiatives in the future, regardless of how they are framed.
On the other side, Al Safa News attempted to reach Minister Karami for comment on the rationale behind the survey but received no response.
The controversy has reignited debate around the role of educational institutions in addressing gender and identity. Supporters of the survey see the additional option as a nod to global principles of diversity and personal freedom. Critics, however, view it as a threat to Lebanon’s traditional ethical and cultural structure.
Amid this divide, many are calling for a calm and inclusive national dialogue to address how such sensitive topics should be approached in schools—one that respects Lebanon’s religious and cultural diversity while acknowledging global developments in human rights. Achieving this delicate balance will require genuine collaboration between the state, civil society, educational bodies, and religious institutions—without exclusion or hostility.
