Political-Activism on Al-Qaws

Jerusalem: A Queer and Feminist Reading of the City

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society is pleased to invite you to its third Hawamesh forum this year, “Jerusalem: A Queer and Feminist Reading of the City,” on Monday 25 October 2021 at 6:00 PM at Yabus Cultural Center (Marakech Hall).

“Hawamesh” (margins) is an intellectual and cultural forum that aims to bring social and political discussions around gender and sexuality from the margins to the center of Palestinian discourse, challenging their marginalisation and emphasising their relevance to all members of society. Hawamesh is also an opportunity to bring alQaws and alQaws activists into closer contact and direct communication with larger circles in the local community.

A Rallying Cry for Queer Liberation 2021

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0200

A Rallying Cry for Queer Liberation 2021

Sunday, September 5

Haifa

Fueled by the latest Palestinian uprising, which has ignited unprecedented feelings of unity and hope, love and anger, exhaustion and frustration, we invite you to join our rallying cry for queer liberation!

We will raise our voices and bring our queer experiences to the forefront to confront violence and marginalization, reaffirming our collective responsibility as a society towards sexual and gender diversity. The time for our collective liberation is now!

Our Queer Life: The Latest Uprising

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Over the weekend, alQaws launched a new edition of “Our Queer Life”, an interactive space on our Instagram story which encourages queer Palestinians to share, reflect on, and engage with different issues, concerns, and questions that affect us in our day-to-day lives. This time we explore our relationship with the latest uprising in Palestine.

Through many different articles, photos, videos, and podcasts, as well as interactive questions, we shared and reflected on our mixed emotions, our presence in the street, our complicated relationship with society, our roles, and different oppurtunities that may exist.

Feminist and Queer Reflections on the Latest Palestinian Uprising

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Over the past few months, Palestinians have been rising up to call for our liberation from all colonial powers. Protests erupted in Jerusalem, Haifa, Yafa, and al-Lidd, along with several areas in the West Bank, as the “Israeli” military continued its aggression and destruction in the Gaza Strip.

In recent weeks, this wave of resistance continued in the protests against the Palestinian Authority following the assassination of political activist Nizar Banat, and later as the PA carried out its suppression and violent assault against protestors.

alQaws Fellowship 2021: Palestine Through the Lens of Queer Politics

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws Fellowship:

Palestine Through the Lens of Queer Politics

(3-month; part-time; Depending on Covid situation, either remote or based in Jerusalem, Palestine)

alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society is seeking a fellow for a three-month political education program focused on cross-border networking, knowledge-sharing, and movement building for LGBTQ Palestinians.

For over a decade, alQaws has shown that LGBTQ Palestinians are an integral and active part of our society. This fellowship invites LGBTQ Palestinians outside Palestine to strengthen the ties with our political home.

[Webinar] Beyond Propaganda: Reorienting Anti-Pinwashing Organizing

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0200

In this community conversation between alQaws and Adalah Justice Project, on the occasion of alQaws’ launch of a new resource on pinkwashing, we’ll be discussing the work of the Palestinian queer movement, how to reorient our understanding of pinkwashing, and the future of collective organizing towards the free Palestine we dream.

Over a decade ago, activists adopted the term “pinkwashing” to describe the Israeli propaganda tactic of ‘washing away’ the oppression of Palestinians by painting Israel as a gay-friendly and liberal state. Israeli pinkwashing tries to win the hearts and minds of international audiences and prevent solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, so the early years of anti-pinkwashing activism focused on fighting against Israeli state propaganda with campaigns, protests, and academic forums. Activists worked to expose the contradiction at the heart of pinkwashing: it’s impossible for a violent colonial regime to also be a “progressive” state.

alQaws' Speech at the "Rallying Cry for Queer Liberation" in Haifa

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:06:00 +0200

Haneen Maikey gives alQaws' speech at the "Rallying Cry for Queer Liberation" protest held in Haifa on Wednesday July 29th.

So much has happened since we gathered here last year, and there is so much to address. We are here today because the question of gender and sexual diversity hasn’t left the headlines in Palestine for over 12 months. It reappears time and time again, in political discussions and social debates, each time exposing discrepancies, double-standards, and heinous violence. In spite of that, we have also witnessed the strength and bravery of Palestinian gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and trans folks. We have seen our friends, families, and allies finally raise their voices in support of our struggle.

Queer Palestinians gather in Haifa calling for safety and liberation

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Press Release
Queer Palestinians gather in Haifa calling for safety and liberation

On Wednesday, July 29th, alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society along with other queer and feminist Palestinian organizations will hold a protest in occupied Haifa to raise our voices against the patriarchal, colonial, and capitalist oppressions on LGBT and queer Palestinians, and to demand an end to violence against our bodies and lives.

Since August 2019, a seismic upheaval has torn apart the veil of silence that once shrouded the issue of sexual and gender diversity in Palestine. LGBT and queer Palestinians have offered up a revolutionary challenge to the status quo: the era of polite societal denial of our existence is ending. This is in large part due to over two decades of community and movement building efforts led by Palestinian LGBT and queer groups.

Boycott Eurovision in Israel and Tel Aviv Pride

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0200

New call from Pinkwatching Israel - a global movement for queer powered BDS - to boycott Eurovision in Israel and Tel Aviv Pride. (Originially published here)

In the early morning of June 28, 1969, trans and queer people took the streets of New York City fighting police violence and harassment in their communities. The Stonewall Riots symbolize LGBTQIA resistance against daily harassment, assault, death and violence. Enough was enough!

Boycott the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival 2018

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0200

New call from Pinkwatching Israel - a global movement for queer powered BDS - to boycott the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival.

Palestinian queers and their allies in the BDS movement call for a boycott of the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival (TLVFest) taking place between May 31- June 9 2018. We call on international filmmakers to withdraw their movies from the festival and respect the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott of Israel until Palestinians have their human rights respected. Palestinians are calling for people of conscience around the world to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law, including a call for artists not to perform or show their work in Israel. The Palestinian cultural boycott call has been heeded by a growing number of cultural figures from around the world including filmmakers John Greyson, Mira Nair, Ken Loach,The Yes Men and Mike Leigh. It sends Israel the message that there is no business as usual for as long as Israel continues to oppress and deny rights to Palestinians.

BOYCOTT TEL AVIV PRIDE 2018!

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0200

Pinkwatching Israel – a global movement for queer powered BDS – is launching its new campaign "BOYCOTT TEL AVIV PRIDE! SAY NO TO PINKWASHING OF ISRAELI APARTHEID!"

Israel’s Tel Aviv Pride claims to celebrate diversity, but underneath the rainbow Israel is hiding more than 70 years of occupation, colonialism and apartheid. The annual Tel Aviv Pride events including the main parade are used by the Israeli government as an exercise in public diplomacy and to whitewash its daily violations of Palestinian human rights. Israeli government agencies work hand-in-hand with Israeli LGBTQ organisations to promote Tel Aviv as a liberal haven in order to distract international attention from its daily violations of Palestinian rights. The Tel Aviv Pride Industry does not stand on its own. Each year, international journalists, LGBTQ organizations, the gay party and business circuit, gay travel organizations, artists, drag queens, and filmmakers are invited not only to promote and attend Tel Aviv Pride, but moreover to give legitimacy to Israel’s ongoing oppression of Palestinians.

Boycott the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival

Thu, 18 May 2017 00:10:00 +0200

New call from Pinkwatching Israel - a global movement for queer powered BDS - to boycott the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival.

Palestinian queers and their allies in the BDS movement call for a boycott of the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival (TLVFest) taking place between June 1-10 2017. We call on international filmmakers to withdraw their movies from the festival and respect the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott of Israel until Palestinians have their human rights respected. Like with apartheid South Africa, Palestinians are calling for people of conscience around the world to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law, including a call for artists not to perform or show their work in Israel. The Palestinian cultural boycott call has been heeded by a growing number of cultural figures from around the world including filmmakers John Greyson, Mira Nair, Ken Loach,The Yes Men and Mike Leigh. It sends Israel the message that there is no business as usual for as long as Israel continues to oppress and deny rights to Palestinians.

BOYCOTT TEL AVIV PRIDE 2016

Sat, 28 May 2016 00:00:00 +0200

Pinkwatching Israel – a global movement for queer powered BDS – is launching its new campaign “Boycott Tel Aviv Pride.”

FLY IN WITH PRIDE PLANE, AND SKIP RACIST INTERROGATION

TEL AVIV GAY PRIDE IS ROYALLY SPONSORED BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT

Tel Aviv is known as a “top gay destination.” However, gay pride brochures fail to mention that it is also an hour away from the world’s largest open prison, Gaza, and that it is built on stolen land. They forget to mention that the gay soldiers you dance with in the pride parade check, arrest, and kill Palestinians on a daily basis. After your day of pride, some tour operators will take you to Bethlehem or the Dead Sea, without telling you that you will travel through the illegally Occupied Palestinian Territories, or that the wine you are drinking in the Golan Heights comes from businesses that have been declared illegal under International Law.

alQaws' Opinion Piece about the Documentary "Oriented"

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0200

Speaking as a Palestinian queer organization, we encourage Palestinian queers to share their personal stories and we work tirelessly to build a society that celebrates their diverse experiences. However, the discourse prompted by a recent documentary about Palestinian queer lives suggests a crucial need to share a critical perspective and to reframe some false assumptions the film may perpetuate.

The film in question, Oriented (Witzenfeld, 2015), recently debuted at multiple international film festivals. This story, about three gay Palestinian friends who live in Tel Aviv, has circulated throughout international media, promoting risky and false assumptions about queer Palestinians. This short statement is by no means a critique of individuals' lives, their lifestyles, or their personal choices; rather, it takes aim at the dangerous generalizations and misperceptions that the film, regardless of good intentions, may further.

alQaws Takes Part in Israeli Apartheid Week Activities in London

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws Takes Part in Israeli Apartheid Week Activities in London
alQaws activists took part in several “Israeli Apartheid Week” activities, organized by Palestine Society and LGBT groups in London universities, including SOAS, Goldsmiths and London School of Economics and Political Science. These events focused on “Pinkwashing”, an Israeli government PR campaign and propaganda tool, that uses gay rights to divert attention from its crimes and abuses against the Palestinian people.

Palestinian Civil Society Demands Urgent Action on Gaza

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0200

Since Israel launched its military offensive dubbed “Operation Protective Edge” on 8 July 2014, over 175 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, 80% of whom the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) report to be civilians, and over 1,280 injured. The victims have included entire families, women, children and the elderly. Israel has launched over 1,500 air strikes in the past seven days, deliberately targeting homes and other civilian facilities and fired dozens of shells at Palestinian communities located near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel and along the coast; approximately 900 houses have so far been destroyed. In a further escalation of events, Israel has bombed a number of houses without any prior warning whilst civilians have been inside, dramatically raising the death toll and the number of casualties. Targets bombed by the military where civilians have been present have included a café, an emergency medical building, a facility for the disabled, three ambulances and a clearly marked media car. Schools, mosques, an ambulance centre, NGO offices, fishing boats and a hospital have also been struck.

In Solidarity Against India’s “Section 377”

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0200

The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) is deeply disappointed with the December 11 ruling of the Indian Supreme Court reversing the 2009 Delhi High Court verdict that recognized same sex relationships between consenting adults to be outside the purview of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

This section criminalizes sexual acts “against the order of nature,” and has been used in the past to discriminate against those with non-conforming genders and sexualities. In dismissing the premise of the 2009 verdict and declaring it as “legally unsustainable,” the Supreme Court has contributed to the erasure of over two decades of organizing in India for the freedom of sexual and gender expression and protection from harassment and abuse on grounds of sexual difference.

From Pinkwashing to Pinkwatching

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0200

One of alQaws’ major political activities over the last few years has been our effective response to the Israeli government’s PR campaign commonly known as ‘pinkwashing.’ This strategy, adopted by the Israeli state and the pro-Israel lobby, ais to distract American and European audiences from the illegal Israeli occupation and larger Apartheid policies, by promoting Israel as a progressive liberal state; a 'gay haven' in the midst of an oppressive and homophobic Palestinian society and Arab world. Members of alQaws have been especially active in drawing attention to the brutal Human Rights violations committed by the Israeli state against Palestinians, which ‘pinkwashing’ seeks to veil.