Speaking about "Freedom"

[eumelia]

My dear friend avihush, told me a chilling story.

He told me of a Palestinian Gay man who performed as a Drag Queen in Jerusalem. Hamas operatives found out about his activities in Jerusalem and told him he had two choices: Become a Shaheed (suicide bomber) or leave Palestine and Israel forever. According to avihush this man now lives abroad.

I like that the while they fight for freedom from oppression from Israel they treat their own citizens like shit.

Thus far I am only aware of one Queer Palestinian group active in Israel and that's ASWAT - Palestinian gay Women. And of course the famous Anarcho-queer group Black Laundry - כביסה שחורה which is well known for their anti-oppression and solidarity with the Palestinians against the Occupation (though if I'm not mistaken, they are now defunct? Correct me if I'm wrong please).

Israel isn't so bad when it comes to certain democratic rights... in a way... damn. In many ways Israel is good and progressive, really, in others, it's no better than South Africa pre-1994. Although if Israel is going the way of South Africa, there are things to be optimistic about, since just a few months ago, SA legalized same-sex marriage.
Then again their Prime-Minister is ignoring the fact that AIDS is a problem.

Okay, I'm digressing, but I hope you see my point.
If not, then it's that both sides suck ass.

Comments

[aesiron.livejournal.com]

Does avihush know the Palestinian personally or is it a friend of a friend or something like that? Not to say that I don't believe it but that sounds a bit urban legend-ish.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Friend of a friend thing.

[djvande.livejournal.com]

I think comparing Israel and Palestine in terms of civil liberties is problematic on a number of levels.

I know that the Open House (J'lem's GLBT center) supposedly coordinates several Palestinian events, but I never had the opportunity to attend one. One of the girls who works there tried to tell me that there's a Palestinian night once a month at the Shushan . . . but I'm not exactly sure how that works, seeing as how the Shushan is definitely in W. J'lem . . .

Also, have you heard of this- http://www.nfb.ca/trouverunfilm/fichefilm.php?lg=en&id=52378&v=h ? Sounds really interesting, but I haven't seen it (don't know where to find it!).

I'm actually friends with the Palestinian half of a Palestinian-Israeli queer relationship :)

[hagar-972.livejournal.com]

I'd seen similar stories in the paper more than once. And i'm talking Ha'aretz, not Yedioth or its like, so it's reliable.

What would you expect of a religious muslim society?

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I'm actually friends with the Palestinian half of a Palestinian-Israeli queer relationship :)

In the States? That's really cool :)

Haven't seen in either, but looks excellent, I'm sure it's floating around somewhere.

[djvande.livejournal.com]

No, not in the States- in P'stine. I have a friend named Bahar who used to live down the street from me in Beit Sahour. He goes to Al Quds U and is dating (well, was dating . . . I'm not up to date on the current status of their relationship) a Jewish/Israeli guy that goes to HUJI.

Don't ask me how that works . . .

[djvande.livejournal.com]

Oops, that reply was supposed to be here!