Queer lives in Palestine and Israel

IndyBay editors write:

"Jerusalem Hosts World Pride 2005
12/01/2004
LOVE WITHOUT BORDERS
IN A LAND WHERE THERE ARE STRICT BORDERS

World Pride will take place August 18-28th, 2005 in Jerusalem.
Gay Pride celebrations are a relatively new phenomenon in that city.
As the World Pride website states, "Love without Borders - Jerusalem Pride has already succeeded not only in attracting thousands of participants, but also in getting the world’s attention. It is 'a protest against hatred' providing 'a spark of love and hope'....
Love without Borders: Jerusalem WorldPride 2005 will bring a new focus to an ancient city through a massive demonstration of LGBT dignity, pride, and boundary-crossing celebration. In these times of intolerance and suspicion, from the home of three of the world’s great religions, we will proclaim that love knows no borders." Jerusalem's impending hosting of World Pride would appear to indicate that Israel is some sort of "Gay Mecca," however, it is not a terribly safe or happy place for Palestinians.
[......]
[et cetera, in the same tone ]

[ -- summary posting by LGBTIQ editors at IndyBay.org;
1 Dec. 2004 ]
.........

Comments by a queer Californian:

(1) It is indeed surprising to see a large queer event in
ancient Jerusalem.
It would be so much easier to hold it in modern Tel Aviv.


(2) Jerusalem queers take "boundary-crossing" seriously.
The city's main LGBTIQ center reaches out to queer Arabs
(as well as to Israeli Jews, foreigners, etc.).
Realizing that most queer Arabs must hide deeply in their closets,
and dare not be seen at queer venues, the center hired a queer Arab staff member to do outreach among Palestinians.

(3) In Israel, queer Arabs fall into several legal classes, including:
(a) Arab citizens of Israel;
(b) Palestinians who have a recognized legal right to live in Israel
(such as the residents of East Jerusalem);
and (c) Palestinians who live "illegally" in Israel.


(4) This third group, the "illegal" residents of Israel, naturally fear being deported back to the Palestinian territories, where their relatives might murder them in so-called "honor killings"; and
where the police and other thugs may freely blackmail, beat, intimidate, or rape them; etc.

(5) Palestine "is not a terribly safe or happy place"
for non-conforming Palestinians,
especially for any who are seen as queer, gender-misfit, etc.
Indeed, as Islamic extremism increases, many square/straight
Christian Palestinians are feeling unwelcome,
and are migrating elsewhere if they can.

(4) We Americans -- left, right, and center -- typically know
very little about foreign countries.
But our ignorance rarely stops us from taking sides
in conflicts we don't understand.

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