By breaking taboos and challenging religious and political conservatism, GEM (Guardians of Equality Movement) is a brave but rare Syrian NGO that’s helping address Syrian LGBTQ+ issues by dedicating itself to improving the lives of people who experience discrimination and abuse due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Tortured, kidnapped, and nearly killed, the founder of GEM who goes by the name “Locked” told The New Arab about his experience as a queer person in Syria and the lack of safety and discrimination he faced prior to fleeing to Turkey. “I suffered a lot in Syria. I was k…