It is impossible to ignore the pain and suffering we are seeing in the middle east right now, suffering that our country is aiding by providing Israel with funds, weapons, and political support while denying the fact that there is a genocide being committed against the people of Palestine. We must counteract the pink-washing ‘queer vacation spot’ narrative Israel is attempting to put out to justify their genocide and remember that Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is aligned with anti-lgbt politicians like Avi Maoz, while Israeli occupation authorities have admitted to threatening and outing queer Palestinians as a tactic to intimidate them. During our celebrations of pride this month, we must remember that there are gay, lesbian, queer and transgender Palestinians. As Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center’s Youth Advisory Council, we call for a permanent ceasefire and end to genocide and occupation in Palestine now.
