Queer-for-Bds on Al-Qaws

On the Question of: Coming Out

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0200

ِAs queer / LGBTQA folks, we tend to think a lot about the concept of "coming out" - sharing our sexual orientation and/or gender experience with others.

This workshop is a space to share and reflect on our feelings, thoughts, and attitudes towards this topic, and attempt to deconstruct it, understand it, and frame it:

How do we deal with "coming out" on different levels?
What personal, social, and politlca factors are at play here?
What does "coming out" mean to each of us?
How is this affected by our lived reality and our culture?

The workshop will take place for 2 hours via Zoom on Tuesday between 5:00-7:00 PM, and participants will be required to register.

Our Queer Life: Coming Out

Fri, 12 Nov 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 "coming out".

We shared many different articles, photos, videos, and podcasts over two days. Through the different materials as well as interactive questions, we reflected on the idea of sharing our orientations and experiences with others, what comes to mind when thinking of "coming out", the opportunities and costs of "coming out" in different places, and seeing this process as a complex personal path dependant on many variables.

New Queer Youth Group in Jerusalem!

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0200

New Queer Youth Group in Jerusalem!

“Me, My Sexuality, and Society: Exploration, Knowledge, and Impact”

alQaws is organizing a new queer youth group, and this time in Jerusalem!

The group’s diverse and exciting program will include:

Sharing our personal experiences and exchanging support, knowledge, and expertise.
Exploring our upbringings, roles, and identities, and the power dynamics that rule them.
Reflecting on our attitudes towards and challenges related to our sexuality and to sexual and gender diversity issues.
Exploring personal and collective opportunities and skills, and developing them.

Our Queer Life: The Latest Uprising

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

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.

No Pride Without Dignity

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200

This is the text version of an online resource published by alQaws during pride month in June 2021, following international discussion around queer liberation and Palestine.

Gay Pride started as a riot led by queer and trans Black, Indigenous and People of Color activists in what is now known as the United States in the1960s. These activists rose up against decades of police brutality and persecution and claimed the streets as a site of liberation in the form of protest. The first ‘Pride’ was a riot and it was also an expression of community care and support that queer and trans activists had created as a result of their exclusion from society.

On the Question of: Our Experiences during the Uprising

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200

We invite you to an online workshop for LGBTQA/queer floks to share how we feel about everything we went through during the latest Palestinian uprising and up until now. How have we we lived and interacted with the events around? How has the uprising impacted us as LGBTQA/queer people?

The workshop aims to create a space to share and reflect on our experiences, feelings and thoughts about this period. How have we tackled and will continue to tackle protests and political activities in the future? How do they impact us and our relationships with our surroundings and society? What is there to gain from this period, if any, in terms of opportunities to develop our relationships as individuals with one another, and as a collective with our society?

Queer Liberation & Palestine

Wed, 26 May 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Queer Liberation & Palestine

An online resource by alQaws exploring the connections between queer liberation and Palestine in the light of last month’s uprising against Israeli settler colonialism. Queer liberation is fundamentally tied to the dreams of Palestinian liberation.

The struggle for liberation continues. We must continue to take actions, mobilize and engage queer and trans communities in Palestine and globally until we end Israel’s settler colonial project and all forms of oppression.

On the Question of: Holidays and Family

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Holidays tend to bring up many thoughts, feelings, and questions about our relationship to our family, whether we even see them during this time, or not.

We invite you to participate in an online support workshop to share reflect on our feelings, thoughts, and attitudes towards family and the holidays, as queer and trans people. How do we deal with this period? How does it reflect on us and our relationships with our families? What can be gained during this time, in terms of opportunities to develop these relationships?

The Interaction of Palestinian Families with Diverse Gender and Sexual Experiences

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0200

This research comes as a part of alQaws’s work in knowledge production around sexual and gender diversity issues in Palestinian society; specifically in the field of mental and community health. Out of all the many different fields in which alQaws works in, we took it upon ourselves to initiate the production of local knowledge within the Palestinian context, and this report constitutes a qualitative leap in this field.

The knowledge production process is accompanied by constant and continuous work in the field with people of different and diverse sexual orientations and gender experiences, along with civil society organizations and different groups of professionals. In regards to supporting queer and trans folk, alQaws provides a listening and information hotline service, alKhat, which provides a space to share, reflect, and obtain information related to sexual and gender diversity issues. This service has been provided for over a decade via phone and chat.

New Queer Youth Group in Haifa!

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0200

New Queer Youth Group in Haifa!

“Me, My Sexuality, and Society: Exploration, Knowledge, and Impact”

alQaws is organizing a new queer youth group, and this time in Haifa!

The group’s diverse and exciting program will include:

Sharing our personal experiences and exchanging support, knowledge, and expertise.
Exploring our upbringings, roles, and identities, and the power dynamics that rule them.
Reflecting on our attitudes towards and challenges related to our sexuality and to sexual and gender diversity issues.
Exploring personal and collective opportunities and skills, and developing them.

Join alQaws’ 12th Annual Training for Hotline Volunteers

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Would you like to join a unique and increasingly expanding project in alQaws?

Would you like to support people seeking a listening ear and information related to sexual/gender identity and sexual orientation?

Do you want to develop your listening and peer-support skills?

Would you like to join a committed team that believes in the importance of volunteering and providing support, as well as contributing to our hotline’s continuous development?

[Online Workshop] On The Question of: Coping with Successive Violent Incidents

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0200

As a result of the public discourse over the Palestinian tahini company “Al Arz” and its support for LGBT rights, the previous others that tackled LGBTQ+ people even after their death, and the successive violent incidents that we endure constantly, many thoughts, feelings and doubts rise to the surface, and they collectively become more complex during both the coronavirus pandemic and the social and political turbulences.

Al-Qaws invites you to a digital workshop that discusses the current situation, these incidents, and how they affect us as LGBTQ+ people.

alQaws Concludes Annual Training for Hotline Volunteers

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws concluded its annual training for new volunteers at “alKhat: Listening and Information Hotline.” The 12-week training ran from May to August 2018 for a total of 60 hours in Yaffa.

The 8 new volunteers will join a committed team of 15 activists running alQaws’ national hotline every Sunday and Wednesday via phone and chat at www.alkhat.org.

Offered annually, the training is open to people of queer experience over the age of 23. Volunteers are guided to develop their listening and support skills in a professional peer-support environment. Applicants are interviewed prior to joining the training course.

Queer Youth Group Concludes in Nazareth

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws concluded a queer youth group in Nazareth which ran from December 2017 to March 2018. The 12-week process delved into personal attitudes regarding sexuality as well as personal experiences and stories. Participants also discussed challenges related to identity and social change from individual, family, and societal levels.

alQaws youth groups are held periodically in different areas in Palestine. The groups cater to lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer youth of various sexual and gender experiences.

Why We Should Boycott Gay Pride in Tel Aviv

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0200

I am a queer Palestinian who has been working tirelessly over the last decade for sexual and gender diversity, as well as LGBTQI visibility in Palestinian society. And I am committed to fighting for justice for all people. So why am I calling for an international boycott of Gay Pride in Tel Aviv this June?

Gay Pride in Tel Aviv is heavily sponsored by the Israeli government and is cynically deployed to divert attention from the occupation of Palestinian lands and the daily violation of Palestinian rights.

Akhat's New Stickers

Wed, 26 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0200

NEW: Queer Palestinian Forum at Tel Aviv University

Sun, 03 Apr 2016 00:00:00 +0200

First meeting: Tuesday, April 5th, at 17:00 at Tel Aviv University.
Discussion Topic: Myths about Homosexuality

Palestinian students at Tel Aviv University have organized a queer forum to discuss Sexual and Gender Diversity, the first Palestinian queer youth group ever to exist at Tel Aviv University. This monthly meeting, facilitated by Palestinian students and supported by alQaws, will facilitate an important dialogue situating Sexual and Gender Diversity within Palestinian contexts. This unprecedented forum at Tel Aviv University aspires to provide a safe space for LGBTQ Palestinians and allies, through series of monthly meetings to discuss LGBTQ issues, homosexuality, and Sexual and Gender Diversity.

The first meeting, "Myths about Homosexuality," will involve discussion of universal and local myths and misconceptions about homosexuality. For additional information and/or to join the meeting, please contact us via e-mail at info@alqaws.org

alQaws' Therapists’ Advocacy Group Starts Its Second Year - Registration is Open

Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0200

alQaws is pleased to announce open registration for the second year of its Therapists’ Advocacy Group, which will commence mid-February 2015.

The monthly meetings of therapists will focus on themes related to sexuality, sexual identity and gender, and their applications in therapeutic settings. Participants will actively explore and reflect on aspects of sexuality and gender dimensions in therapy, using their own training and experience as touchpoints for growth.. Moreover, the Therapists’ Advocacy Group will provide a platform for participants to create new professional initiatives, as well as a foundation for these professional experts to develop innovative and fresh theoretical and intellectual knowledge relating to sexual and gender dimensions in therapy.

AlKhat's Fourth Year: Listening and Information Hotline Shows Increasing, Record Community Access

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0200

AlKhat ends its fourth year with a team of 15 volunteers, 105 shifts, and more than 200 queries via the telephone hotline and the online chat platform at www.alkhat.org. In addition, alQaws reached to new populations, particularly women, transpersons and youth. alQaws also trained a new team of volunteers during its fourth training course, which took place in Jerusalem and resulted in building a Jerusalem-based volunteer corps. alQaws’ professional staff also provided ongoing supervision and assistance to volunteers in order to ensure they had the tools and resources to best fulfill their role.

The volunteer team includes people of different professions and experiences. Yet they are united in purpose – and in the willingness to listen to people in need. AlKhat offers a platform for community members to reach out for assistance, support or information on sexuality and gender-related concerns. They can discuss the impact on their thoughts, feelings and relations with friends, family and coworkers.

AlKhat also serves as a resource to friends, family, coworkers or others with questions about issues of gender and sexuality.

Finally, alKhat serves the general public as a key resource for information about the field. As necessary, alQaws offers help, connect callers with relevant professionals, and follows up and mediates between the callers and relevant service providers.

Privacy is assured in using alKhat. Callers/chatters may remain completely anonymous, revealing only those details they choose to disclose during the session. AlKhat volunteers are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of each alKhat chat or call, refraining from sharing any information outside the alKhat platform.
AlKhat operates twice weekly, on Sundays and Wednesdays between 17:00 and 21:00. AlKhat can be accessed via phone at 0722220202 or via chat at www.alKhat.org.

alQaws Youth Groups in Ramallah and Haifa

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0200

In 2014, alQaws organized 2 long-term youth groups with over 20 participants. The youth groups, entitled "Me, My Sexuality, and Society: Knowledge and Impact” are a safe space to examine aspects of gender and sexuality, and to voice and discuss personal opinions related to sexuality. The first group took place in Ramallah between April and July. The second group started in Haifa in October and is due to continue through February 2015.

alQaws Statement re: media response to Israel's blackmailing of gay Palestinians

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0200

We write in response to a couple of articles published in the past week in western media, such as "Israel surveils and blackmails gay Palestinians to make them informants" (Mondoweiss),or Corey Robin’s recent post, "Forget Pinkwashing; Israel Has a Lavender Scare." Both pieces were written in response to the recent spate of articles, like the ones published in The New York Times and The Guardian, detailing IDF Unit 8200 veterans’ refusal of reserve duty due to their rejection of Israel’s surveillance and blackmail of Palestinians. We are concerned by the way that these responses single out sexuality in general, and homosexuality in particular, as the main and most troubling aspect of Israeli intelligence and surveillance recruitment practices. Although the responses cite many different vulnerabilities Palestinians face—including lack of medical care—that Israeli “security” forces exploit in order to recruit Palestinian informants, these articles neglect these equally significant vulnerabilities and zero in on (homo)sexuality.

Don’t single out (homo)sexuality in response to Israel blackmail revelations, Palestinians say

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0200

Last week, 43 reservists affiliated with the Israeli army’s “Unit 8200” – an electronic espionage operation – issued a public letter decrying Israel’s latest attack on Gaza and which states that they would not take part in Israel’s oppression of millions of Palestinians living under occupation.

What generated particular outrage was the letter-writers’ revelation that Unit 8200 eavesdrops on Palestinians in order to use personal information to coerce them into collaboration with Israel.

Pro-BDS Columbia prof’s gathering with anti-BDS J Street and Zionist LGBT groups stirs controversy

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0200

Katherine Franke, the Columbia University law professor who has endorsed the academic boycott of Israel and the Palestinian civil society call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS), has stirred controversy by convening a meeting in New York today with representatives of anti-BDS and Zionist LGBT organizations including J Street.

Haneen Maikey, director of Al Qaws for Gender and Sexual Diversity in Palestine, has strongly criticized the meeting and pulled out of another Columbia event organized by Franke in protest.

What is Queer BDS ? Pinkwashing, Intersections, Struggles, Politics (Angela Davis)