November 3, 2023
As we continue to witness the horrific and ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and parts of the West Bank, Queer Crescent is urging LGBTQI+ organizations and leaders to join us in calling for a ceasefire now, and furthermore, to demand an end to the illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip.
As U.S.-based organizations and leaders, we have a moral obligation to use our collective power to interrupt the flow of resources and support of Israel's ongoing war on Palestine.
The United States is the Israeli military’s greatest funder and enabler. Every year, the U.S. government writes Israel a blank check for at least $3.8 billion to fund Israel’s violence against the Palestinian people. Rather than using those funds to provide for communities in need here, our government uses taxpayer dollars to enable the Israeli military to kill Palestinians, destroy their homes, and steal their native land. US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement works to end international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law by calling for a boycott of Israeli products from illegal settlements, divesting from ongoing aid and support of Israel, and creating accountability measures through sanctions.
As trans, queer and non-binary people we understand too well what is at stake when our self-determination and sovereignty are removed. Palestine is a queer issue, and it is our duty to listen and learn from queer Palestinians who are living under Israeli occupation, and in the imposed Diaspora. We are urgently calling upon queer organizations and leaders to speak up, take action, and demand a ceasefire.
A ceasefire is an urgent measure to stop the active massacre in Gaza. But we know that this is only a first step, and it is essential that we move together to name and resist the violence of settler colonialism and Israel’s racist apartheid regime. From the outset, the Zionist colonial project of creating Israel was built on the erasure, violence, and ethnic cleansing of Palestine and the Palestinian people.
Gendered violence has always been used as a tool of settler colonization. Israel has directly targeted our queer communities through “Pinkwashing”.
A strategy of neo-fascism and colonization that directly targets our queer communities, pinkwashing is propaganda used by Israel and Zionists globally in their ongoing campaign to dehumanize the Palestinian people. They propel a narrative that Israel is “pro-queer,” and reinforce orientalist and racist tropes about Arabs, Muslims, and Middle Eastern (SWANA) people being “backwards” and inherently homophobic. This propaganda serves to justify Israel’s continued murder, displacement, and occupation of the Palestinian people, including queer Palestinians, by appealing to liberal sensibilities and individualism.
Through pinkwashing strategies, Israel intentionally distracts the public from their racist and violent actions by projecting an image of freedom and safety for queer people. Pinkwashing erases the existence of queer Palestinians who have been entrapped by the IDF, who are living under occupation, who are dying at the hands of Israel. A country can not be a safe refuge for LGBTQI+ communities and simultaneously commit genocide, mass displacement and ongoing dispossession of the Palestinian people.
Pinkwashing is one of many violent strategies that attacks the sovereignty of Palestine.
Our struggles and our humanity are bound together.
Queer and trans liberation can never come at the expense of the Palestinian people.
We, the undersigned queer organizations and leaders, are in solidarity with Palestinians resisting occupation and fighting for their right to self-determination. We commit to using our platforms to call for ceasefire now, and take up learning about and challenging Pinkwashing in particular and Zionism generally, and all forms of anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab racism. We dedicate ourselves to being in solidarity with the Palestinian people, and we understand that our role as allies witnessing genocide is to commit to solidarity with Palestine today, and until liberation.
Ceasefire Now! Free Palestine!
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Signed,
ORGANIZATIONS
Accountability Mapping
Adler University
Alianza Trans Latin X
Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA)
Alyssa Rodriguez Center for Gender Justice
Antonieta Gimeno/IMAGINArte
API Equality-LA
Atlanta Unity Mosque
Autistic Nature
Basically Wonderful
Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP)
Boundary Span, LLC
Boundless Awareness
Brown Boi Project
Center for Embodied Pedagogy and Action
El/La Para TransLatinas
Endeavoring Wellness LLC
Evolve Ames
Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement
Fat Rose
Folsom Street
Freedom Oklahoma
GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society
GSA Network
Hate Free Outagamie
HEART
Heartmind Teaching
Hussain Collective
Inclusive Muslims of Central Virginia
Indigenous Idaho Alliance
Indigenous Justice
Intransitive
Jummah 4 All
Kaleidoscope Youth Center
Lavender Phoenix
Lead to Life / bakiné
Lyon-Martin Community Health Services
Marigold Seeds Collective
Mew
Mirror Memoirs
Muruna Healing LLC
Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD)
National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA)
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
Neem Institute
Nikkei4Palestine (N4P) Collective
NQTTCN
OPAWL-Building AAPI Feminist Leadership
Our Family Coalition
Pacifica Social Justice
Peacock Rebellion
PFLAG
Pyaar To The People
Queer Art Night Austin
Queer Film Theory 101
Queer Mango Collective
Queer Rebels Production
Queer Shia Collective
Queer the Land
Queers for Palestine – Winnipeg
Queers’ Gambit
QueerTrans.Events
QUIT! Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism
Radically Fit
Rainbow Chrysalis Coaching
Rooted Respite
Rosen Creative House
Sabian Arte
Sad Francisco
Sadhana Support Collective + Yoga with Avery
Savage Daughters
SeritaYoga
South Asian SOAR
South Bay Youth Changemakers
StaceyFest
TACT (Trans Advocacy & Care Team)
Teaching Palestine: Pedagogical Praxis and the Indivisibility of Justicer Scholar, Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies, San Francisco State University & Feminists for Justice in and for Palestine
Texas Trans Futures
Thank God for Abortion
The City School
The Feminist Front
The Queer Choir (Oakland)
The Queer Palestinian Empowerment Network
The Worm Farm Project
Transgender Law Center
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Viet Rainbow of Orange County
Vigilant Love
Vocal AF
We Rise Production
Zapatista Assembly of Transnational Liberation (EZLTN)
INDIVIDUALS
a.t. Furuya
Aashish Jethra
Adaku Utah
Adam Jude Breaux
Aditi Lappathi
Aditi Varshneya
Aen Xmas
aian mendoza
Aileen Eagleton
AJ Schaerer
Akoth Ombaka
Alex Marterre
Alex Skinner
Alexandra Bradley
Alexandra Smith
Ali Murat Gali
Ali S.
Alicia Hurtado
Alima Chowdhury
Alisa Sikelianos-Carter
Alvina Han
Alyssa Holster
Amanda Bloom
Amanda Peraza
Amanda Seaton
Amee Chew
Amira Rachouh
Andie
Andrea Liu
Angel C. Fabian, MD MNA (Tlahuizpapalotl)
anika luya dingcong-martinez
Anisa Mustafa
Anna
Annette Deigh, MSW, LCSW
Anthony Stoner
Antonieta Gimeno
Anuj Larvaidya
Anush Gandra
Aria Back
Arianna Harrison
Ariel Pinchot
Arya Karthik
Ash López
Asher McClain
Asher McClain
ashley lugo
Avery Janeczek Kalapa
Baharak
Beatrice McGeoch
Beck DeTrempe
Bèr Kim
Bethany A
Beven Kersaint
Beven Kersaint
Blaise
Blanca Sepulveda
Blanca Ulloa
Blue Murov
Bowie Winnike
Bre Porter
Brenda Salas Neves
Briana McDowell
Bridgette Bissonnette
Bridgette Bissonnette
Cailin Greenburg
Camilo Zamora
Caroline Jones
Carrie
Carrie Elizabeth Persephone Marie Sepulveda
Carsen Rhys Beckwith
Carter Kirby
Chase Spearance
Chavé Alexander and Matt Milton
Chen Gu
Cheyenne Cenk
Chi
Chloe Johnson
Claire Burditt
Claire Calderón
Clarke latta Henry III
Connor Nardocci
Cristina Aguilar
D Philip
Dalia Bender
Dan Paz
Dani Pacey
Danica Sapit
Daniel G
Danny Brown
Dante Fuoco
Daria Lee
Debo
Deeg Gold
Defines hamidah amatullah wadud Fineout
Delphia
Deni Asnis
Devi Peacock
Diana Venegas Hernandez
Dina
Divine Cade
Dolores Tejada
Dominique
Donna Murillo
Dr. Nic Francisco-Kaho’onei
E. Sall
Eli Davies
Elizabeth Neyman
Ellen Mayer
Emerson Wells
Emilie B. Joseph
Emilie B. Joseph, PhD
Emily Markovic
Emily P
Emma P Williams
Era Infinity
Erica Woodland
Erin Upchurch
Fabliha Yeaqub
Faisal Alam
Fareeha
Fareeha Qadir
Fazeela Siddiqui
Felix Evans
Francisco echo Eraso
Gabby Mutrie
Gabriel Quigley
Gabriela van Veen
Geronimo Hancock
Ginna Brelsford
Grace Lavery
Grace Lee
Grant Bowser
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana
Han Mathers, MSW
Hannah Honor
Hannah Mathers
Hannah Shaby
Hanne Williams-Baron
Heidi L
Hella Tsaconas
Himadri Gupta
Hira Ismail
Hira Ismail
Horus Balogh-Zanin
Hyunhee Shin
Imam Kelly Wentworth and Imam LaTrina Jackson
Irma Shauf-Bajar
Isabel Yannatos
Isabelle T.
Jac Jaconetta
jack barry
jack barry
Jacob Yoss
Jaden Barney
Jae Lin
Jam Chen
James Hixon
Jasmin H
Jasmine Goldman
jazmín calderón torres
JD Doyle
Jenn Biehn
Jennicet Gutiérrez
Jessica Disney
Jessica Koehler
Jessica Schelz
Jimmy Su
jo'kai bath
Joan Lohman
Jodi McLaren
John Zhao
Jona Hilario
Jonathan Lee, PhD
Jordan Chamblee
Jorja Chisam-Majid
Julie Starobin
K Ho
Kate Jessica Raphael
Katharine So
Katherin Canton
Katie Walker
Katrina Doughty (MESD Chair, OSBA Director)
Katrina Grace
Kayla Bible
Kayla Jade
Kelley Ready
Kelsi Seid
Krish J. Bhatt
Krista Smith
Kristina E
Krystalle Franz
lasha madan
Lau Malaver
Laura Ostrow
Laura Ritchie
Lauren Gaunt
Laurie Wager
Laurie Wager
Leah Rotkin-Ellman
Leon Shtern
LeTania Severe
Lia Dun
Liam Shipston
Lianna G.
Lily
Lily Woodruff
Lindsey Hewitt
Linton Freund
Lis Regula
Logan
Logan Evans
Luca Yacón
Luna Merbruja
lush horizon
M R
M. Beau Beckham-Shirey
Madalyn drewno
madhvi trivedi-pathak
Makalah Brown
Mama Ganuush
Mama Ganuush
Mamayan Jabateh
Mara Schechter
Marcel Arriola
Mariam Gagoshashvili
Mariana Alvarado
Marie
Marie Jamila Khan
Marie Jamila Khan
Marielle A. Reataza, MD, MS
Marjorie Alford
Mary Converse
Maryam Khawar
Maryam Moshrefi
Matt Gee
Mattie Kupfer
Maudisa Meroe, LCSW, LISW-S
Mauree Turner (Oklahoma State Representative)
Max Hlavacek
Maya Acharya (aka mayx)
Maya Bhardwaj
Mayra Jimenez
Mckinley Thompson, MSW
Megan Ai
Megan Featherstone
Meghna Shankar
Mehak Anwar (but VL is hoping to sign on as an org!)
Mel Thomas
Melinda Rice
Melissa Rosario
Melvin Escobar
Mew
Mew
Mew
Micah Bazant
micha cárdenas
Mimi Demissew
Minahil Akbar Khan
Miriam Rocek
Moira Meltzer-Cohen
Monica Allen
Mubaadarat Collective
Nada Raslan
Nader
Nadia Khansa
Nadiyah Suleiman
Naomi Combe
Nat H.N. Low, PhD
Natalie Gallagher
Natalíe Ortega
Navila Rashid
Neena Mohan
Nell Hirschmann-Levy
nicole gervacio & Catherine Petru
Nicole McAfee
Nicole Santamaria
Nicole Verdes
Niki Cross
Nikkita Oliver
Ning Wan
noon el mosalami
Nora
Okichie M Davis
öykü nur
Öykü Nur Potuoğlu
P.R
Paige Taylor, LSW
Parisa Zamanian
Parker brand
Partners in Pride Wellness Center
Phoebe Sanders
Phoenix Ra
Pooja Gehi
Portia Trabue
Queer Rebels
Rabab Abdulhadi
rachna vanjani
Radia DeLuna
Rafa Kidvai
Rana Abdallah
Reagan Dunham
Ream
Regine
René Rivera
Renuka Garg
Reshna Maniklal
Rev. Autumn Blackwood
Rev. Latishia James
Rev. Ranwa Hammamy
Rian Ciela Hammond
Rio Riera-Arbogast
Risa Takenaka
River Kerstetter
RJ Taka
Ronimar López-Bazán
Rory O.
Rory O.
ROSENRIOT
Rosie Fei
Ryan Fitzgibbon
S. Ali
Sabian Marrero
Sabiha Basrai
Sabina Neem
Sage Cude
Sage Tanji
Sam Brown
Samantha Plante
Sana B
Sand Chang
sanjana sandhu
Sanjay M.
Sara Emilia Baig
Sarah A Salem
Sarah Carlin
Sarah Cornett
Sarah María Acosta Ahmad
Sarah Pallivalapil-Karerat
Sasha W.
Savannah Carlstrom Page, MSW, LISW
Savannah Kilner, PhD
Sejal Babaria
Serita Colette, SeritaYoga
Shai Chang
Shams
Shane Sullivan
Shania Khoo
Shelby Chestnut
Shiloh
Shreya Delgado-Shah
Silvina Duchini, LCSW
Simrun Kaur Sandhu
Sine Hwang Jensen
Sky Lenaghan
sonya epstein
Sophia lianna
Sophie Lewis
Sulynn Miao
Svati Shah
Taj M. Smith
Talia Estrada Holguin
Tamiko Beyer
Tara Venkatraman
Therese Claxton
Tia Z
Tonee Burley
Toshio Meronek
Tracy Garcia
Tracy Zhao
Trisha de Guzman
Tünde Paule
Tyler Kirkman
Uma Venkatraman
Urooj Rahman
Vanessa Rodriguez
Veronica Blackwell
Vida Zamora
Vincent Crisostomo
Viva Ruiz
William Lampman
Wisam Fillo
Xinpei Lu
Yashna Maya Padamsee
Yasmine Kanso
Yasmine Ramachandra
yes
Yoyo Romero
Yumi K.
zera bloom
Zeyn Joukhadar