Omar Sharif Jr., the grandson of film star Omar Sharif, is an Egyptian actor, model, and LGBT rights activist. In 2013, Sharif revealed he was gay and also half-Jewish, which led to his decision to leave Egypt for the United States. Sharif’s passport was revoked under the Morsi regime, and the Sisi government’s increased crackdown on gay Egyptians has made it impossible for Sharif to return in the near future. Sharif served as the Eastern National spokesperson for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for two years, speaking out on behalf of those who are silenced in Egypt and elsewhere. His activism has also focused on the use of culture and media to promote free and open societies in the Middle East.
