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Decolonial Queering: The Politics of Being Queer in Palestine

Alqaisiya, Walaa

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Authors

Walaa Alqaisiya



Abstract

This article analyzes the work of Palestine's most established queer rights organization, alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society, to reveal the political power of being queer in Palestine. It argues that an open, feminist, queer space such as alQaws is a productive site to think and practice decolonization. Relying on the author's direct involvement with the group, the article traces the development of queer Palestinian thought to provide a critique of queer politics in Palestine: it recounts how since the establishment of the organization in 2001, alQaws activists have increasingly transcended exclusivist gay identifications and rejected singling out sexuality as a discrete site of oppression disconnected from Zionist settler colonialism. The discussion covers Israeli pinkwashing and its counter, Palestinian pinkwatching; it deconstructs pinkwashing narratives, rejects the myth of the colonial savior, and reveals how discourses of sexual progress reproduce Zionist colonialism. It also documents alQaws's challenge to normalizing development discourse.

Citation

Alqaisiya, W. (2018). Decolonial Queering: The Politics of Being Queer in Palestine. Journal of Palestine Studies, 47(3), 29-44. https://doi.org/10.1525/jps.2018.47.3.29

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Jun 12, 2018
Publication Date Jun 12, 2018
Deposit Date Jan 23, 2019
Publicly Available Date Jan 23, 2019
Journal Journal of Palestine Studies
Print ISSN 0377-919X
Electronic ISSN 1533-8614
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 47
Issue 3
Pages 29-44
DOI https://doi.org/10.1525/jps.2018.47.3.29

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Copyright Statement
Published as Alqaisiya, Walaa (2018). Decolonial Queering: The Politics of Being Queer in Palestine. Journal of Palestine Studies 47(3): 29-44. © © 2018 by the Institute for Palestine Studies. Copying and permissions notice: Authorization to copy this content beyond fair use (as specified in Sections 107 and 108 of the U. S. Copyright Law) for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by the Regents of the University of California/on behalf of the Sponsoring Society for libraries and other users, provided that they are registered with and pay the specified fee via Rightslink® or directly with the Copyright Clearance Center.




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