On August 18th, 2019, the Palestinian Police Force (under the Palestinian Authority), issued a statement banning alQaws, a Palestinian advocacy group for sexual and gender diversity from all of its activities and encouraged Palestinian citizens to report any alQaws activities to the police. This unprovoked act of state aggression on queer Palestinians not only makes their lives more dangerous but also serves a gift for Israel's occupation and propaganda machine.
For years, Israel has used LGBT+ individuals as a cudgel to justify its apartheid regime through a propaganda campaign known as pinkwashing. Israel systematically papers over its human rights abuses against Palestinians by claiming Palestine is inherently homophobic while it, Israel, stands as a beacon of progressiveness, liberality, and gay rights. The Palestinian Authority’s decision to ban alQaws activities serves as a gift to Israel and queer Palestinians are now more at risk on two fronts: fighting homophobia and fighting the Israeli occupation.
Add your name to our petition tell Ambassador Husam Zomlot—head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK and Strategic Affairs Advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas—to publically condemn the PA’s decision and pressure them to reverse it.
Dear Ambassador Zomlot,
As people committed to Palestinian freedom, dignity, and equality we appeal to you to stand up for the queer Palestinians community by publicly condemning the Palestinian Authority’s decision to ban alQaws activities and pressure the PA to reverse their decision. This unprovoked act of state aggression on our queer Palestinian siblings not only makes queer Palestinian lives more dangerous but also serves as a gift to the Israeli occupation.
For years, Israel has used LGBT+ individuals as a cudgel to justify its apartheid regime through a propaganda campaign known as pinkwashing. Israel systematically papers over its human rights abuses against Palestinians by claiming Palestine is inherently homophobic while it, Israel, stands as a beacon of progressiveness, liberality, and gay rights. The Palestinian Authority has given a gift to Israel in the form of this law, and queer Palestinians are now more at risk on two fronts: fighting homophobia and fighting the Israeli occupation.
We are appealing to you int he hopes that you understand the vital role that queer Palestinians play in the fight against Israeli apartheid and that their ability to participate as full members of Palestinian society is an issue of human rights. Every family in Palestine feels the sting of civil rights abuses when the LGBT community is targeted and every person deserves the right to live without fear of state-based discrimination.
You have the power to make a difference in the lives of the Palestinian community by publicly condemning this ban by the PA and using the influence you have in the Palestinian Authority to convince them to rectify the harm that has been done – before it gets worse.
Sincerely,
