Today’s Newsletter
Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Welcome to this special Pride edition! In this issue, I shine a spotlight on queer Palestinian icons, share social media accounts that highlight queer Palestinian issues, and dive into the topic of pinkwashing. I also explore how queer movements stand in solidarity with Palestine and provide ways you can take action to counter pinkwashing.
Plus, don't miss my pro-Palestine Spotify playlist for the perfect soundtrack to your Pride celebrations!
LGBTQ+ Pride
As someone who is proudly queer, Lebanese, and pro-Palestine, I want to address the false dichotomy that pits Arabs against queer people. This harmful narrative often serves to obscure and justify Israeli atrocities against Palestinians—a tactic known as pinkwashing.
What is Pinkwashing?
Pinkwashing refers to the cynical use of LGBTQ rights by governments or politicians to distract from their unethical actions. It's a manipulative strategy that attempts to paint oppressive regimes as progressive by highlighting their supposed support for LGBTQ rights, all while committing human rights abuses.
Queer Voices in Palestine
It's important to recognize that there are queer people in Palestine whose voices need to be heard. Their primary struggle is not for gay marriage but for ending the occupation. Understanding their perspective is crucial in supporting their fight for justice and equality.
Learn More and Get Involved
To deepen your understanding of the experiences of queer Palestinians, both in Palestine and in the diaspora, here are a few accounts I recommend:
Queers in Palestine
Queers in Palestine is a collective of queer Palestinian individuals advocating for justice and calling on allies worldwide to take action against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
In November 2023, the collective released a profound Statement of Liberatory Demand, which highlights their struggle and resilience. Here’s an excerpt:
"We, queer Palestinians, are an integral part of our society, and we are informing you: from the heavily militarized alleys of Jerusalem to Huwara’s scorched lands, to Jaffa’s surveilled streets and cutting across Gaza’s besieging walls, from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
Queering the Map
Queering The Map is a unique, community-generated counter-mapping platform that digitally archives LGBTQ+ experiences in relation to physical spaces. This innovative project allows LGBTQ-identifying users to share anonymous, geotagged posts, creating a rich, pink-colored atlas of community-sourced anecdotes.
Among the many poignant stories on the platform, the contributions from queer Palestinians stand out. These heart-wrenching accounts not only dispel myths but also highlight the shared experiences and struggles of LGBTQ+ people in Palestine. They reveal a deep humanity and relatability that transcends borders.
Trashy Clothing
Trashy Clothing is a satirical, political, and queer Ready-To-Wear Palestinian fashion brand that challenges the ideals of fantasized luxury. This innovative brand often highlights icons in the Arab LGBTQ+ community, such as Haifa Wehbe, Egyptian singer Sherihan, and Armenian Lebanese pop star Maria.
Their Summer 2021 campaign, titled Pride for Pay, is a collection of hot-weather clothes perfect for vacationing in paradise. The Pride for Pay campaign presents a fabricated “gay heaven” and critiques the portrayal of Tel Aviv as a gay paradise. They aim to reveal that this so-called heaven is not real, shedding light on the discrimination faced by Palestinians despite their sexual orientation.
Bashar Murad
Bashar Murad is a trailblazing queer artist often dubbed the Palestinian Lady Gaga. Murad’s eclectic music style blends traditional Arabic melodies with contemporary pop, addressing themes of identity, resistance, and liberation. He almost competed in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest for Iceland (more on that in the video below)
Murad is openly and proudly gay, using his platform to discuss his sexuality and the challenges he faces due to his orientation. He embraces his identity as an integral part of his artistic expression, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and shedding light on the intersection of the Palestinian struggle with feminist and queer issues.
For a deeper look into his perspective, check out this 2023 interview with Murad titled “The Palestinian struggle is a feminist and queer issue.”
Queer Artists for Palestine
Hundreds of LGBTQ+ artists have signed an open letter calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The letter, entitled Queer Artists for Palestine, stated that the LGBTQ+ community "has a role to play" in opposing human rights violations. It was signed by actors and musicians such as Phoebe Bridgers, Kehlani, Lauren Jauregui, MUNA, boygenius, Indya Moore, Angelica Ross, and Hari Nef; as well as famous drag queens like Sasha Velour, Shea Coulée, Kandy Muse, and Denali. Here’s an excerpt:
“Our queer Palestinian siblings have asked us to stand firmly with them in their call for dignity and self-determination. This includes challenging Israel's whitewashing, or “pinkwashing,” of its brutal military occupation, by exploiting queer performers and voices to cover up decades of right-wing, violent, and racist policies against Palestinians. Now more than ever, we must be clear: queer people are no friends to Israeli apartheid. We use our voices and our platforms to oppose systemic violence and inequality – against Palestinians, and against all people everywhere."
Take Action: Say No to Pinkwashing
Queer and trans groups are working tirelessly to counter Israel’s pinkwashing tactics and foster a more inclusive movement for the liberation of all oppressed communities. Here’s how you can take action with BDS around pinkwashing:
Spread the Word
Help build a more inclusive movement for the liberation of all oppressed communities by spreading the word on Israel's pinkwashing agenda.
Find a local partner
There are BDS partners all over the world who are working to campaign against Israeli pinkwashing. Get active and connect with one now!
Raise awareness on Israeli pinkwashing
Work together with local queer, trans and feminist groups to organize a workshop, public talk or film screening on Israel’s pinkwashing. Get in touch for possible speakers: pacbi@bdsmovement.net.
Join the Boycott TLVFest campaign
The success of the campaign to convince queer and trans filmmakers not to participate in the Israeli government-sponsored LGBT film festival, is largely due to outreach by local partners and among fellow filmmakers. Contact us for more information: pacbi@bdsmovement.net.
Monitor and counter pinkwashing events
Keep an eye out for pinkwashing events at film festivals, Pride events and campus talks in your area. Build a coalition of local groups to convince organizers not to host known pinkwashing organizations or Israeli government-sponsored events. If they fail to do so, organize a creative protest or an alternative event to raise awareness.
Respect and promote Palestinian guidelines for ethical tourism
Israel markets itself as a fun-loving destination for gay travel. Palestinian guidelines for ethical tourism call for a boycott of all LGBTQIA+ events organized by or in cooperation with the Israeli government or complicit Israeli institutions and to refrain from using any LGBTQIA+ services or utilities like beaches, bars, hotels or clubs, provided by operators and companies that are complicit in Israel’s human rights violations.
In Case You Missed It
I'll be sharing new releases from Pro-Palestine artists every Thursday exclusively for my paid subscribers, like I did in this free newsletter. It's a little something special to show my appreciation for your support! In last week’s Thursday issue, I covered Arooj Aftab’s new album, “Night Reign,” as well as 5 other new album releases by pro-Palestine artists.
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Thank You
Let me know what you think by commenting below, and don't forget to share this newsletter with your friends and hit the like button. Together, we can tip the cultural scales in support of a Free Palestine. Thank you for being part of this community!
In Solidarity,
illesha magdalena
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