In recent decades, attitudes in many parts of the Arab region have become non-conforming sexualities and gender roles, a shift fuelled in part by a rise in Islamic conservatism and exploited by authoritarian regimes. While political cultures have been slowed down by the Arab Spring, a growing freedom of expression, and increasing activity by civil society, is open space for discreet challenges to sexual taboos in a number of countries, part of wider debates over human rights and personal liberties in the political and social order. In recent decades, attitudes in many parts of the Arab region have become harder to deal with sexualities and gender roles that are not in conformity, an evolution fueled in part by a rise in Islamic conservatism and exploited by authoritarian regimes. Although political cultures have been slow to change in the aftermath of the “Arab Spring”, in many countries, greater freedom of expression and growing civil society activity are opening the door for a discrete challenge to sexual taboos. in the context of wider debates on human rights and individual freedoms within the emerging political and social order.