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June ishere –and you know what that means. “PrideMonth” is upon us,anow-obligatory (almost mandatory) public celebration of the LGBTQ community.
Given the laughably large number oftransgender flagsand thepanoply of sexual orientationsseenat pro-Hamas protests in recentmonths, it’sall but certainanew contingent will be joining inPrideParades this year from coast to coast:QueersforPalestine.
But before the enbyactivistsand “DykesforDivestment” throngs line up behind the QfP banner, thereareafew things these self-styled “liberators” should beaware of before they gettomarching:
An anti-Israel crowd brought the Philadelphia Pride Parade to a halt. (Karen Closkey via Storyful)
Have you noticed how on June 1 global corporations give their logosarainbow makeover in ordertoshow their supportforthe LGBTQ community? It’s become sucharitual that it’s spawned its own series of memes (“Corporations on June 1”).
ANTI-ISRAEL DEMONSTRATORS SEEN ON VIDEO BRINGING PHILADELPHIA PRIDE PARADE TO A HALT
But have youalso noticed that those same corporations leave the logos of their Middle Eastaffiliatesuntouched? Did you ever realize it’s becausealmost everything LGBTQ is banned in those culturesand countries?And thatthe Palestinianterritories are one of the most oppressive of the bunch?
Nonetheless,acommon refrain has emergedamongQueersforPalestineactivists when confronted with the Gaza status quo:It’sjustas badforqueer people in the United Statesas it is over there.
No, it’s not.
VideoThe Palestinian territoriesare the eighth-worst place in the worldforLGBTQ rights,ranking 190 out of 197on the Equaldex list of most LGBT-friendly countries in the world.
Never mind the fact thatPalestiniansdon’t recognizesame-sex marriage, nondiscrimination in employment,and refusetoinvestigate hate crimesagainst gayand transgender people – inthe territories, gay sexualactivity carriesasentence of10 years in prison.
It canalso cost you your life. In 2022,AhmadAbu Murkhiyeh,agay Palestinian who had been receiving death threats because of his sexual orientation, was foundbeheaded. Inthe Palestinian territories,no LGBTQ person is safe – not evenat the highest levels of the military.
VideoIn 2016, commander Mahmoud Ishtiwi, whose family was considered “Hamas royalty”forharboring Palestinian leaders wanted by Israel, was done in by men in his own battalion. The crime that earned him three bullets in the chest? “Moral turpitude” (Hamas legalesefor”homosexuality”).
The U.S. State Department’s “West Bankand Gaza Strip 2022 Human Rights Report”foundthat “human rights organizations in Gaza did not monitorand refusedtoaddress LGBTQ+ issues”andnoted that in Gaza “there was no visible LGBTQI+ community.” There isn’taliving LGBTQI+ community there, either.
PROFESSORS CLAIM POINTING OUT HOW HAMAS BRUTALIZES LGBTQ PEOPLE IS ‘HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE’
Sadly, when it comestoengaging withQueersforPalestinemembers, “facts don’t careabout your feelings” is unlikelytoresonate. Indeed, when it comestoQfP, their feelings don’t careabout facts.
VideoIt’s the only waytoexplain the creation ofanew 2024 editionof the now-annually revised LGBTQPrideFlag that places the Palestinian colors front-and-center. Unfortunatelyforthe designers, pro-LGBTQ banners billowing in the breezeare notalways welcomeat pro-Palestinianprotests –atan October rally in London,an LGBTQ flag was violentlytorn downby demonstrators.
AnewsflashfortheQueersforPalestinecrew: youare not wanted there. In 2019, the PalestinianAuthority (PA) Police banned LGBTQ public events,statingthat suchactivitiesare “harmfultothe higher valuesand ideals of Palestinian society.”
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Inavideo producedforTheAsk Project on YouTube, everyday Palestinians wereaskedwhat they thought ofQueersforPalestine. Responses were decidedly unenthusiastic, ranging from “against the Palestinian cause”to”unacceptable”and being “against thattotally.”
Of the lot, only one supporter of LGBTQ people was willingtogo on camera. Heradvice? “Don’t stay inPalestine.”
Gregory T. Angelo is a communications consultant based in Washington and the former president of Log Cabin Republicans.
