The upcoming Hawamesh is going to focus on the latest attack on LGBTs and homosexuality in Palestine which took place last June (Islamic movement leader statement against gay marriage, attack on LGBT rights supporters, rainbow drawing on the Apartheid Wall and more), and the unprecedented public discussion among civil society organizations, political parties, social movements, alongside the heated debates on social media. (Read here the support statement signed by 15 civil society organizations that was initiated by alQaws and allies. Arabic only).

The meeting will host speakers from various political Palestinian parties and organizations to discuss both the limitation of the current discourse, as well as the new opportunities that we face toward a more constructive debates about LGBT issues. The speakers will address their own organizations’ process and its reaction to the latest attack, the limitations and opportunities for the future, and what are the needs for a just civil society in Palestine, and how our practice of feminism, human rights, and inclusive values, can also be relevant, for marginalized groups, and socially sensitive issues.   

“Hawamesh” (which means "margins" in Arabic), is a Haifa-based monthly discussion forum about issues related to sexual and gender diversity in Palestinian society. Hawamesh aims to fill a void in the mainstream discourse - including the rhetoric of local queer organizing and sexuality activism - in order to disrupt and broaden its domain.