On 6 April 2021, alQaws held a study day with the Palestinian Counceling Center (PCC) to discuss and launch “The Interaction of Palestinian Families with Diverse Gender and Sexual Experiences” alQaws’ most recent field study.

The day commenced with opening statements from both organizations. Haneen Sader, alQaws Director, applauded the partnership with PCC and valued their professionality, in spite of facing violence and incitement in the 2 weeks prior to the event. Khaled Obeidat from PCC emphasized the importance of this step in line with the center’s vision and objectives. The main session, streamed live on alQaws Facebook page, brought together experts and scholars to discuss the different aspects of the study. Haneen Maikey, former Director of alQaws and one of the research authors, gave an overview of the research process and its context. 

Dr. Fathi Fleifel, a psycho-therapist, discussed the reactions of Palestinian families to issues of gender and sexuality. He examined the notions of denial and loss experienced by families of LGBTQ+ Palestinians. 

Maya Rabee, a psychotherapist with long experience working with LGBTQ people, highlighted the experiences of queer and trans people in interacting with their families. She tackled the “loss” experienced by LGBTQ children who lose the ability to be the type of children their families want. 

Asrar Kayyal, a scholar in Social Psychology, introduced the “context of oppression” as a framework within which Fleifel and Rabi’s contributions can be understood. Kayyal discussed how Israeli colonialism impact how Palestinian familes react to issues of gender and sexuality at an individual, collective and communal level. Zaina Amro, Lecturer in Psychology and Anthropology at Birzeit University, moderated the session.

Next, the audience split into three simultaneous workshops. The first workshop, facilitated by Louis Louis, alQaws activist, and Feda Elayan, a counselor at PCC, discussed knowledge production on issues of gender and sexual diversity. The workshop revealed a pressing need to expand knowledge production on issues of gender and sexual diversity, which the study also recommended.

The second workshop discussed the horizons of work with Palestinian families on issues of gender and sexual diveristy. Psychologist and Group Facilitator, Ala’ Atoon, who was also a member of the research team, and Haneen Maikey, alQaws former Director, moderated the discussion. The workshopposed a number of questions regarding the future of working with Palestinian families on issues of gender and sexuaity, a strategic and political question central to alQaws’ current work.

The third workshop discussed the “Horizons of Relationships between LGBTQ People and their Families,” and was facilitated by Mohammed Halim, a Social Worker and Group Facilitator at alQaws and a member of the Professional and Academic Supervision team that worked on the research, in addition to Psychologist, Dr. Mai Sader. The workshop was attended by a large number of alQaws activists and LGBTQ people, indicating a massive need to discuss relationships with family.

The workshop participants varied between LGBTQ folks, professionals in the fields of mental and community health, researchers, journalists and individuals interested in the topic from different fields. The participants also came from a diverse group of geographical locations, including multiple cities across Palestine and abroad.