Decolonial Queering: The Politics of Being Queer in Palestine

Alqaisiya, Walaa

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
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1309511