Despite the rain an estimated 2500 people took part in the annual Gay Pride Parade through the streets of Glasgow to mark the start of Glasgay Festival This year a number of those participating were protesting about the alleged homophobic legislation in a number of countries taking part in the Commonwealth Games due to start in Glasgow on 24 July 2014 Credit: Findlay/Alamy Live News Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Linking the gay rights movement to Israel’s geopolitical conflict merely refreshes age-old Zionist conspiracy theories by using one of today’s most prominent social issues.Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
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But is Israel welcoming LGBTQ travelers with a gift basket full of munitions to hurl over West Bank barriers? No. Other activists have even begun to cite a more direct correlation between gay visitors and human rights abuses, holding up placards suggesting that Israeli government is “using” gay people to oppress Palestinians. In fact, the idea that any Bush administration policies were widely accepted by the gay community seems pretty ridiculous. Jasbir Puar, an academic who helped popularize the term, suggested in an article last year that the 2003 invasion of Iraq-and subsequent human rights abuses at Abu Ghraib-was bolstered by homonationalism as part of “ sexually progressive multiculturalism justifying foreign intervention.” While it may be easy to project repression on an individual level, the idea that the LGBTQ community was more OK with torturing detainees because they were seen as an enemy of the gays is a bit far-fetched. Pride is about inclusiveness, and Palestinians should be included.
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Instead of demonizing gay travelers for something Tel Aviv is doing right, activists should focus on drumming up support for Palestine’s LGBTQ community while they’re in town. Yes, most gay visitors are there to enjoy the beautiful beaches, renowned nightlife, and delicious food (also known as a vacation), but this doesn’t mean they necessarily harbor a strong allegiance to the Israeli government. Having more gays-many of whom are socially liberal progressives with strong sympathies for human rights causes-visit Israel would seem to be a tremendous opportunity for Palestinian activists to raise awareness for their cause. But pinkwashing assumes that the gay community is too stupid to realize that, yes, Muslims can be gay, too. But how is it fair to blame Israel if its pro-gay policies make its neighbors look bad? The gay community has no obligation to value cultural norms that support their imprisonment or demise. It’s safe to say that the LGBTQ community isn’t exactly clamoring to support hardline Islamic societies where the penalties for homosexuality range from prison time to death. In other words, foreign gays should be welcomed to Israel, and activists should set their sights on educating them about LGBTQ needs in Palestine. It will take the efforts of the broader gay community to affect change on both sides of the conflict. But discriminatory Israeli policies make it difficult for gay Palestinian asylum-seekers to stay there. Many Palestinian gays who feel unwelcome in their home territory seek refuge in Israel. Same-sex activity is still prohibited in Gaza, so don’t expect to see any Hamas-sponsored pride parades anytime soon. But how is a 1951 law a sign of progress? Jordanian authorities regularly harass and sometimes arrest members of the LGBTQ community.
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Pinkwashing activists sometimes point to a 1951 law decriminalizing sodomy in Jordan-grandfathered into the West Bank-as an example of progress. And the gay community isn’t turning its back on gay rights internationally. But Israel isn’t telling the gay community to hate anyone. Arguments to support this generally hinge on cultural relativism, claiming that Israel is fomenting a gays-versus-Muslims mentality as part of a broader agenda. Pinkwashing activists believe that LGBTQ sympathy for Israel-and comparative antipathy for other countries in the region-will indirectly hurt the Palestinian cause.