“You cannot have queer liberation while apartheid, patriarchy, capitalism, and other oppressions exist. It’s important to target the connections of these oppressive forces.”
– Ghaith Hilal, AlQaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society
Israel’s policies and actions have contributed to ongoing violence and displacement of Palestinians, including those who identify as queer and transgender, gender variant, and intersex (TGI). The struggles of queer and TGI individuals are often compounded due to state violence including militarism, occupation, the expansion of prisons, and economic neo-colonialism. These systems of oppression are gendered and racialized. Angela Davis spoke highly of TGIJP’s work contributing to the struggle for liberation in her book, Freedom is A Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement, where she drew connections between state violence and oppression throughout history around the world.
As a Black TGI-Feminist Abolitionist organization, we recognize the struggle of TGI people to be a global issue. The fight for the freedom of TGI people does not end here in America. In our fight, we have a duty to not shy away from supporting TGI people experiencing violence globally.
Systems of oppression reinforce one another, and they cannot be fought alone.
As advocates of the rights of (TGI) people, it is important to consider the ways in which our actions and beliefs intersect with larger systems of oppression and colonialism. It is possible to support queer and TGI individuals while also opposing Israel’s occupation and oppression of Palestinians. This can be done through education, advocacy, and direct action, including supporting Palestinian-led movements and organizations.
Ultimately, it is crucial to listen to the voices and experiences of queer and TGI Palestinians and their perspectives in discussions or actions related to this issue.
“Insisting on the connections between struggles and racism in the US and struggles against the Israeli repression of Palestinians, in this sense, is a feminist process.”
– Angela Davis, Freedom is A Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement
