[News] Bay Area - Palestinian Queer Activists Talk Politics - Feb 15 & 16

Wed Feb 9 18:24:55 EST 2011

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Palestinian Queer Activists Talk Politics
National Tour Comes to the Bay Area - February 15 & 16!

Palestinian queer activists will be touring six 
US cities for a series of open conversations hosted by
locally and nationally known US activists.

What does the Palestinian queer movement have in 
common with other LGBTQ movements worldwide?
How can we understand and work with issues of 
visibility and the notion of "coming out" within the Palestinian context?
What are the questions, goals, beliefs and dreams 
of the Palestinian queer movement?

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Tuesday, February 15

7pm
PUBLIC FORUM
Moderated by Cherríe Moraga
Mission High Auditorium
3750 18th Street at Dolores, San Francisco
Parking available
*Arabic translation will only be available at this event*

Wednesday, February 16

12:30pm
COLLOQUIUM
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway, Ethnic Studies Conference Room,
Ethnic Studies/Psychology Building # 116
Organized by the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and 
Diasporas Initiative's (AMED) Gender and 
Sexuality Studies in the Global South: Arab and 
Muslim Communities Colloquium 
Series.  Co-sponsored by the Race and Resistance 
Studies Program and General Union of Palestinian Studies.

7pm
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Pro Arts Gallery off Broadway
150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland (Accessible off Broadway)

9:30pm
AFTERPARTY!
Featuring DJ Emancipacion
2022
2022 Telegraph Ave (between 20th St & 21st St), Oakland
with outdoor hookah/arguileh lounge
$10 Suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds

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All events are free and open to the public.  All 
venues are wheelchair accessible.

Fragrance Free: Please make events accessible to 
people with chemical intolerance by refraining from wearing scented products.

<http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=191541440862449>
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<http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=191541440862449>
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<http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=191541440862449&num_event_invites=0>RSVP 
on 
<http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=191541440862449&num_event_invites=0>Facebook
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About the Organizations and Speakers

ASWAT

Abeer Mansour is a feminist Palestinian queer 
activist who is dedicated to promoting the 
inclusion of Palestinian queer women in 
Palestinian society. Abeer joined Aswat's staff 
in 2008 as a resource development and networking 
coordinator. She represents Aswat in local and 
global events to explain about the multiple forms 
of oppression Palestinian queer women face: as a 
national indigenous minority living inside 
Israel, struggling for equal human and civil 
rights; as women battling for equality with men 
in conservative and patriarchal Palestinian 
society; and finally as queer women living in a 
heteronormative culture which is often extremely 
homophobic, fighting discriminization and 
marginalization. Abeer networks with partner 
feminist and human rights organizations to 
promote the inclusion of the queer agenda in their activism.

The mission of the ASWAT initiative is to serve 
as a Palestinian gay women’s group where we may 
express ourselves, discuss gender and sexuality, 
define our feminism, and address the conflict 
experienced by us between our national and 
gendered identities. The ASWAT group provides a 
safe space for any Palestinian woman who 
identifies as lesbian, bi-sexual, transsexual, 
transgender or inter-sexual, where we can break 
our individual silence through dialogue, 
self-education, healing and activism. In 
addition, we strive to generate social change in 
order to meet the needs of one of the most 
silenced and oppressed communities in Israel. We 
work to reach out to Palestinian and Jewish 
communities in Israel, and also to collaborate 
with other like minded institutes, groups and 
individuals in order to combat the multilayered 
discrimination we face and to promote women 
rights.  <http://www.aswatgroup.org/english/>
More information <http://www.aswatgroup.org/english/>>>

AL-QAWS

Sami Shamali is a 23 year old Palestinian queer 
activist with Al-Qaws working who lives in the 
West Bank. Sami joined Al-Qaws four years ago as 
part of Al-Qaws virtual Arabic discussion forums 
staff members. Currently, he is a member of the 
leadership group of Al-Qaws, and one of the main 
activists who are leading "West Bank house for 
activists" and the growing social change activism in the West Bank.

Al-Qaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in 
Palestinian Society seeks to promote the 
development and growth of the Palestinian 
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and 
Questioning (LGBTQ) community in Israel and the 
Palestinian occupied territories. This process is 
inextricably linked with the larger mission of 
building an equal, diverse and open Palestinian 
society. Within this context, Al-Qaws is an 
enthusiastic partner in the development of a 
Palestinian civil society that respects and 
adheres to human and civil rights and allows 
individuals to live openly and equally, 
regardless of their sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Al-Qaws aims to achieve its mission through 
challenging attitudes, breaking social and 
religious taboos and norms, empowering, 
educating, developing leadership skills, and 
promoting social change and social 
transformation. Our mission is to create a safe 
and mature space to fertilize open and 
responsible dialogue at the societal level, 
promote diversity, meet the vast and 
differentiated needs of Palestinian LGBTQ persons 
and promote their well-being and capacity to 
engage in and contribute to the larger society.
<http://www.alqaws.org/q/>More information <http://www.alqaws.org/q/>>
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Co-Sponsored By:
Alliance of South Asians Taking Action
American Friends Service Committee-Pacific Mountain Region
Amor Sin Fronteras
API Equality, Northern California
Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Initiative, SF State University
Arab Cultural and Community Center
Arab Film Festival
Arab Resource and Organizing Center
Bay Area Jewish Voice for Peace
Bibi-SF
Community United Against Violence
Global Exchange
Global Women's Strike
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, SF Bay Area
Middle East Children's Alliance
National Center for Lesbian Rights
NorCal Friends of Sabeel
Old Lesbians Organizing for Change
Omid Advocates for Human Rights
outLoud Radio
Palestinian Youth Network, Bay Area
San Francisco LGBT Community Center
Seventh Native American Generation
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Southwest Asian & North African Bay Area Queers (SWANABAQ)
TGI Justice Project
US Palestinian Communities Network, SF Bay Area

Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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