|
Aswat's Publications
User Tools
Printer-friendly Version
Send To A Friend
Links
Bookmark This Page
Mailing List
Forums
|
|
Information and Publication Project
The need for the Information Project lies in the fact that the issue of sexuality and, of course, of sexual orientation is tabooed; it is not dealt with, recognized or even discussed openly. The fact that this sensitive issue is intentionally oppressed and ignored has left a huge gap in our language, emphasized in our group meetings as we tried to address each other or other people in a non-prejudice or offensive manner. Searching the Arabic language for adequate terminology to address the LGBTQI[1] issues led us to a vacuum.
As most of the information, including literary and theoretical material on lesbianism - such as coming out stories, lesbian and queer theory - is not translated into and published in Arabic, the extensive lesbian/queer writing of the past four decades has skipped those who cannot read western languages. Palestinian gay women have thus been prevented form acquiring political-ideological awareness and self-affirmation gained by relating to such a cultural legacy and vital discourse.
Furthermore, it is our experience that most Palestinian gay women are not aware of the information that does exist in Arabic or have difficulties to access it or the know-how to search for it. Given factors such as closet and shared residence with other family members (most commonly parents and brothers/sisters) options such as ordering books from amazon.com or using the local library are not available.
In addition, the closet prevents most Palestinian gay women from participating in groups meetings and political activities. For most of the 70 members of the Palgay Forum, the web is the only way to relate to their peers and gain information. Especially for Palgaywomen from the West Bank and Gaza Strip who need to deal with curfews, closure, siege, checkpoints and other restrictions on their freedom of travel, on a daily bases. Moreover, the virtual space enables direct communication with Arab lesbians all over the world without considerations of physical, geographical and political wars.
Aims of the Project
-
To create a safe and anonym space for acquiring information and knowledge without the need to disclose identities.
-
To combat distortion of information, censorship and ignorance created by social taboos regarding women's sexuality and lesbianism by disseminating alternative, resisting knowledge.
-
To reach-out to other Palestinian gay women struggling with closet, shame, undisclosed feelings and identities and become a main source of information and empowerment by using our direct authentic voice and our own words.
-
To advocate our values and vision to interested groups and individuals such as educators, service providers, community leaders and NGOs within the Palestinian and Jewish communities and increase public debate regarding gender, sexuality and minority perspectives towards LGBTQI struggle for equal rights.
-
To produce high standard complementary materials in the service of Aswat's projects (such as education and advocacy projects) and a reference for further information and knowledge.
-
To increase accessibility of information by gathering, translating, editing and posting on-line materials and links on our web-site and at the same time, creating hard copies for those who do not have access to the web.
-
To increase the presence of women's sexuality and lesbianism in the Arabic language and culture by forming an alternative glossary and indeed, a 'mother tongue' with positive, un-derogatory and affirmative expressions of women and lesbian sexuality and gender.
-
To contribute our unique gender and national experiential knowledge to the growing feminist/gay multicultural discourse by encouraging Palestinian gay women to author their "her-stories" and share their experiences, knowledge and perspectives.
Main Achievements
-
Launched Aswat Website
In April 2006, Aswat formally launched its website. The event gathered activists and supporters from several human rights and gay organizations and hosted representatives from foundations and friends of Aswat. The website serves to publish Aswat's activities, programs and initiatives; it provides a safe space for gay women to contact Aswat, to learn more about the issue of gender and sexuality; it also has many links to gay women’s writings and other gay organizations.
-
Published a Glossary of LGBTQI Terms in Arabic
The Glossary, first of its kind, allows Arab women to relate to their sexuality in non-derogatory terms, with emphasis on an alternative, resisting 'mother-tongue'. The terms are being introduced and used regularly in Aswat's education and awareness raising workshops, as well as by many workshop coordinators and in gay women’s writings.
-
Published six Information Papers (Newsletters)
Issue 1: The History of Sexuality in the Arab World
Issue 2: Lesbianism and Health
Issue 3: World Pride
Issue 4: Homosexuality and Lesbianism
Issue 5: Sexual Identity
Issue 6: Aswat Conference and IDAHO.
-
Published a Booklet in Arabic: "Home and Exile in Queer Experience: collection of articles about lesbians and homosexual identity"
The book, launched at Aswat's Conference in March 2007, is a collection of articles, the first of its kind in Arabic, presenting the issue of lesbianism from a feminist point of view.
It was produced in order to raise awareness within the Arab society on freedom of choice concerning sexual preference and on the very existence of lesbians in the Palestinian Arab society.
The articles in the book were written by lesbian women; the first two - written by Aswat activists - discuss the discourse on lesbianism in the Arab society. The other articles - written by activists and lesbians from the Arab and the Western world - present the authors' perceptions and personal experiences in their own societies, which are somehow similar to the experiences of Palestinian lesbians in Israel.
[1] Stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex
|
