Queers Against Israeli Apartheid disbands

[King_David]

Palestinian rights group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid is shutting itself down after seven years of activism and controversy.
Tim McCaskell, one of the group’s organizers, announced in a news release Thursday that QuAIA will “officially retire” at the end of this month.
The group educated Canadians about the Israeli “occupation”, popularized the terms “Israeli apartheid” and “pinkwashing” and inspired QuAIA groups in queer communities around the world,” he said.
But deteriorating Middle East conditions and Canada’s attempts to “suppress” boycott, divestment and sanction efforts “pulled activist energies in many directions,” and QuAIA members to other groups and cities.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to make,” McCaskell said. “But we decided that retiring QuAIA allows us all to develop new strategies for supporting the Palestine solidarity movement and to make new links across oppressions in our communities.”
Avi Benlolo, chief executive of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies, and a past critic of what he called a “fringe group”, welcomed QuAIA’s decision but doubted the stated reason.
“It’s quite obvious that they would lose momentum,” Benlolo said.” With extremist massacres in Syria, ISIS going around cutting people’s heads off, Iran executing gays ... why would anybody be going after Israel with its pride parades in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem?”



http://m.thestar.com/#/article/news/city_hall/2015/02/26/queers-against-israeli-apartheid-disbands.html

[King_David]

1. Anti-Israel group QuAIA 'will not be missed,' Jewish leaders say

TORONTO — Jewish community leaders reacted with both triumph and relief at the news the pro-Palestinian group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) has decided to disband after seven years in operation.

In a statement posted on the activist group’s website Feb. 26, QuAIA, which has for years been enmeshed in controversy for its participation in the annual Toronto Pride Parade, announced that it will “officially retire at the end of the month.”

It said that QuAIA’s resources have been “stretched” as most of its original members are currently working “within a variety of fields and organizations within Toronto and internationally” and that, “over the past year… the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, Canada’s involvement in attempts to suppress the movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel… have pulled activist energies in many directions.”

Representatives from Jewish organizations, as well as Jewish Toronto city councilor James Pasternak, responded to the news by reiterating their condemnation of QuAIA and its presence at the annual city-funded Pride Parade.

“We are not at all surprised they decided to disband. We have always maintained there is no room in the Pride Parade for QuAIA’s discriminatory messages,” said Justine Apple, who, as executive director of the Jewish LGBTQ group Kulanu Toronto, Justine Apple, has vocally opposed QuAIA’s participation in Pride for several years.

http://www.cjnews.com/canada/anti-israel-group-quaia-will-not-be-missed-jewish-leaders-say

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. I'm sure that pro-apartheid bigots everywhere will cheer this one.

Last edited Sun Mar 8, 2015, 06:09 PM - Edit history (1)

It's strange, though, that some would be chee3ring it on.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make,” McCaskell said. “But we decided that retiring QuAIA allows us all to develop new strategies for supporting the Palestine solidarity movement and to make new links across oppressions in our communities.”

It doesn't sound like he is going away, dave. In fact it sounds like something new will come of it all.

One door closes, another one opens.

[King_David]

4. She ?

What do you mean by that?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

7. Typo.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

3. Saving the best, and strangly looked over point, for last.

Pro-Israel groups and Toronto council members called “apartheid” dishonest, hurtful and hate speech, and tried to force Pride to eject QuAIA from the parade or risk loss of grants totalling more than $150,000.

But city manager Joe Pennachetti concluded in 2011 that “there is no legal precedent” to suggest the phrase “Israeli apartheid” constitutes a hate crime or a violation of the provincial human rights code.

City solicitor Anna Kinastowski told council in 2013 the phrase appears to be legally “protected speech” and does not violate the city's human rights policy.

[King_David]

5. That is all old news

They had no support, they disbanded.

Jewish Gay group had highest number of marchers in any Toronto Gay pride during QuAIA very brief appearance that at any time in the

parade ever.

QuAIA marchers on the other hand were a tiny group, hence they disbanded.

Another story out of Canada to look at is this one.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/113496868


When Palestinian governments and Hamas treat Gays like this why would Gays support them ?

Shame on the Harper government.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

6. But it is still part pf the article that you posted.

Did you read it in full before posting?

[King_David]

8. Did you see what Gays can expect from the PA and Hamas?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113496868

If deported, (back to Palestine ) he could be executed on both counts of apostasy and homosexuality.

[azurnoir]

9. Name names please who has been executed solely for being Gay or for apostasy in either

the West Bank (where being Gay is legal) or Gaza?

[King_David]

10. You read the article?

Read it it is very interesting.

The Gay Palestinian is fighting the extremely right wing POS conservative government because he says his life will be in danger if he is deported back to Palestine because he is Gay.


Now do you think you know more about this than he does? Interesting.

In this group some posters say they know more about what is and what is not antisemitism than Jewish groups do and now it seems more about Gay Palestine than Gay Palestinians do ? Is that right?

[azurnoir]

11. yes I did read it that's why I ask name names please

[King_David]

13. The situation WRT extreme Homophobia in Palestine

Should not be defended by anyone , particularly not on a progressive website such as DU.....Gay rights are human rights .

[azurnoir]

14. name names please

and oh your attempt to smear me as defending something I am not is despicable, I'm asking for information and the smear attempt could seem to indicate you are unable to reply to my request

[King_David]

16. Read the article

"Name names " is irrelevant

The Palestinian record on LGBT rights is despicable, shameful and indefensible.

[azurnoir]

31. Name names is very relevent when one is claiming that Gays are or will be executed

[King_David]

36. Read the links I gave you , strangely you think you understand this issue better than these Gay guys

who lived under these homophobic bigots?

[King_David]

23. Gay Palestinian finds asylum, builds new life in Norway

Gay Palestinian finds asylum, builds new life in Norway

Read more: Gay Palestinian finds asylum, builds new life in Norway | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/gay-palestinian-finds-asylum-builds-new-life-in-norway/#ixzz3TwIq1qjr
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook


You probably think you know better than this Gay Palestinian ?

[azurnoir]

32. Nope but are you saying he speaks for all Gay Palestinans btw most of article was about his life in

Israel -he prefers Norway

[King_David]

35. And of course you know better than him about the life of Gay Palestinians?

LOL

[King_David]

12. The situation in Palestine wrt Gays , is an absolute disgrace,

And its absolutely shameful and disgraceful for ANYONE to try and defend this unabashed bigotry/homophobia :

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights in the Palestinian territories are often spoken of in the geopolitical and cultural context of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It remains one of the most taboo human rights issues in the region. Homosexuality is illegal in the Gaza Strip but not in the West Bank, although LGBT rights are not protected in either.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_Palestinian_territories

[azurnoir]

15. Thank you your link proves what I have been saying being Gay is legal in the WB

albeit sadly not so in Gaza

The Palestinian territories have no specific, stand alone civil rights legislation that protects LGBT people from discrimination or harassment. While hundreds of gay Palestinians are reported to have fled to Israel because of the hostility they face in the Palestinian territories, they have also been subject to house arrest or deportation by Israeli authorities, on account of the inapplicability of the law of asylum to areas or nations in which Israel is in conflict. According to a 2010 compendium of laws against homosexuality produced by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Intersex Association (ILGA), the decriminalization of homosexuality in the Palestinian territories is patchwork. On the one hand, same-sex acts were decriminalized in the Jordanian-controlled West Bank in 1951 and remain so to this day. On the other hand, in the Gaza Strip, the British Mandate Criminal Code Ordinance, No. 74 of 1936 remains in force and continues to outlaw same-sex acts between men, although lesbian women are not subjects of the code and their relations are thus, technically, not unlawful. In both cases, it is important to note that the Palestinian Authority has not legislated either for or against homosexuality – "on the legal level, the President of the Palestinian Authority issued his first decision on 20 May 1994 which provided that legislation and laws that were effective before 5 June 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would remain effective" – and, in line with almost all other Palestinian laws, the confused legal legacy of foreign occupation – Ottoman, British, Jordanian, Egyptian and Israeli – continues to determine the erratic application or non-application of the criminal law of homosexuality in each of the territories.

This page was last modified on 4 February 2015, at 09:08.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_Palestinian_territories

[King_David]

17. There is absolutely no protection for gays

And any liberal or progressive who thinks the situation in the West Bank is acceptable wrt to treatment of LGBT's is neither progressive nor liberal .

[azurnoir]

18. who said that anything was acceptable?

However true or false you feel the Palestinian Straight and Gay do not deserve a state until they bring Gay Rights in the West Bank up to whatever standard you seem to set but never outline?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x366616

[King_David]

19. The standard of any civilized world

The treatment of Gays in Palestine is despicable and they should be shunned like Russia, IS,Iran and Uganda.


IS ,Gaza ,Uganda and Iran are among the very worst offenders in the world where it comes to Gays and should be recognized only when they join civilization wrt.

[azurnoir]

21. so you believe Israel should remain in occupation until?and now the Palestinians are like IS(IS) ?

[King_David]

22. Hamas is very much like ISIS

Especially when it comes to Gays.

[azurnoir]

30. yes that is/was Bibi's line too

Netanyahu Tells World Leaders ‘Hamas is ISIS and ISIS is Hamas’

http://time.com/3445394/netanyahu-un-general-assembly-hamas-abbas/

[King_David]

37. We talking about the homophobic persecution of Gays

Not a tangential topic you want to take this on.

Please don't try minimize the persecution of LGBT .

[azurnoir]

44. more libels aimed at me, I have not denied discrimination or persecution as you seem to prefer

but I am asking about the claims of execution, it could seem you can not give n account of that happening so you make accusations towards me

[King_David]

46. No the minimizing the persecution of LGBT by telling me you talking about "execution "

does not dignify a reply .

[azurnoir]

49. actually your own links talk about execution I asked if Gays have been executed for being Gay

you reply only with accusations why can you not produce anything else?

[King_David]

25. Do you know better than these Gay Palestinians ?

‘Israeli kindness changed my life,’ says Hamas escapee in Canada

Read more: 'Israeli kindness changed my life,' says Hamas escapee in Canada | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-kindness-changed-my-life-says-hamas-escapee/#ixzz3TwKC9mvr
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook

[azurnoir]

27. same guy as in your thread that you've linked to 2 or 3 times here

his assumed name is John Calvin so "these" is in reality this one

[King_David]

39. And you know better than him?

That's not even his real name as he's worried it would be a death sentence and persecution of his family back in Palestine to reveal it - because he's gay.

Please just stop minimizing the persecution of LGBT.

[King_David]

24. Im sure you think you know far better than these Gay Palestinians?

For most audiences, that’ll be the effect of Yariv Mozer’s new documentary, “The Invisible Men,” which details the struggles of gay Palestinians living in hiding in Israel. Ostracized by their communities, and often by their own families, many face lynching if they return home.

Read more: Sympathetic film unveils 'invisible' gay Palestinians | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/sympathetic-film-unveils-invisible-gay-palestinians/#ixzz3TwJdRb3i
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook

[azurnoir]

28. thanks an Israeli drama, released in November of 2012. I'll have to see it

[King_David]

40. Yes Israeli , wouldn't be possible to make in Gaza or West Bank

Or Uganda, or IS or just about anywhere surrounding Israel.

[azurnoir]

42. would it have been impossible? perhaps in Gaza but not in the West Bank

that is a nearly ridiculous claim

[King_David]

45. Where would it be filmed ? In the Fay bars of Ramallah ?

Oh wait , there are no gay bars in Ramallah. No pride either . You lucky to just "live" in the closet in Ramallah.

Why ?

Because Gays are not "tolerated "in Ramallah , they have to flee to Israel , to Norway , to Canada.

The persecution of gays in Palestine is despicable, shameful and disgusting.

Please don't even try minimize the persecution of LGBT, not on DU.

[King_David]

26. WHERE GAY PALESTINE GOES TO PARTY

When Palestinian gays want to party, they go to Tel Aviv.

http://www.towleroad.com/2012/04/where-gay-palestine-goes-to-party.html

[azurnoir]

29. thanks, but still you never answered my initial query who has been executed for being Gay in Gaza?

lots of stuff but still nothing about that, why?

[King_David]

38. Please read what the Gay Palestinians have to say

and don't pretend to know better than them about their own persecution.

Also please don't minimize the persecution of LGBT.

[azurnoir]

41. I do read what Palestinian Gay advocates say like Haneen Maikey

Stop using Palestinian gays to whitewash Israel's image

At the recent 'Gay Olympics' - the World Outgames in Copenhagen, Denmark - Tel Aviv was crowned one of the exclusive gay capitals of the world and proudly celebrated by the Israeli ambassador in Denmark.

The attack was followed by a myriad of articles on the homophobia haunting Israel and a Haaretz poll showing that nearly half of the Israeli population believes homosexuality is a perversion.

For Palestinian gay rights activist, Haneen Maikey, the latter events are an expression of the known reality in Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/stop-using-palestinian-gays-to-whitewash-israel-s-image-1.6887

[King_David]

48. That's got nothing to do with pretending that persecution of Gays does not happen in Palestine

Or Uganda or IS or Russia or Iran...

[azurnoir]

51. except I have done no such thing despite your continual claims to the contrary

and about that execution question here's your claim

Star Member King_David (11,217 posts)
8. Did you see what Gays can expect from the PA and Hamas?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113496868

If deported, (back to Palestine ) he could be executed on both counts of apostasy and homosexuality.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=96912

[King_David]

52. Yes the treatment of Gays in Palestine is despicable

and if they want to join civilized world they must rectify this. Same goes for the IS, Ugandan,Iran

[azurnoir]

43. and you still have declined to answer name Gays that have been executed in Gaza for being Gay

that is not minimizing it is asking for facts, I have not denied that Gay's are discriminated against but your links claim execution

[King_David]

47. This minimization of LGBT persecution by going on a tangent of "execution "

Does not deserve a dignified reply.

[azurnoir]

50. the so called "tangent" is in your own links and posts as seen here

Star Member King_David (11,217 posts)
8. Did you see what Gays can expect from the PA and Hamas?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113496868

If deported, (back to Palestine ) he could be executed on both counts of apostasy and homosexuality.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=96912

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

33. My question was "did you read the whole article before posting?"

Why decry part of an article as old news why thumping the parts you like?

[King_David]

34. Of course I read the whole article

This tiny group that managed to get 12 people marching in the last parade is now disbanding.



That ruling by the city was when Rob Ford was mayor - the most homophobic mayor imaginable , refused to march in Gay Pride.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

53. If it is such a tiny group why did you post the story in the first place?

[King_David]

54. They also wear yellow T shirts and I still posted the article in the 1st place.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

55. Well it's good that you can admit to posting a fairly irrelevant story about tiny 12-person group.

[King_David]

56. Irrellevent now,

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/02/27/no-surprise-quaia-is-disbanding

“Sadly people so obsessed with hating Israel never really go away,” Apple says. “However it would be nice if they would focus their energies on speaking out against actual abuses against our community, such as in Iran where people are being executed because they are gay.”

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

57. (Irrelevant), yes I agree that a tiny 12 member group is (Irrelevant)...

much in the same way that you posting about it is.

[King_David]

20. No surprise QuAIA is disbanding

TORONTO - In the end it was the rise in terrorist elements worldwide and the likelihood that their toxic message simply ran out of steam that caused the Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) group to fold its tent and disappear into the sunset this week.

The fact that new Mayor John Tory had the temerity to say during last fall’s campaign he’d vote against a grant to Pride if QuAIA was permitted to march in the annual parade this year no doubt helped put the knife in the controversial group’s coffin.

In a Feb. 26 statement on their website, one of the group’s founders, Tim McCaskell blamed the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and “other pressing issues” for pulling their activist energies in many directions.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make,” McCaskell said in the group’s statement. “But we decided that retiring QuAIA allows us all to develop new strategies for supporting the Palestine solidarity movement and to make new links across oppressions in our communities.”

Whatever that means.

But if their pathetic efforts in last year’s World Pride parade helped seal their demise, I am thrilled. When I happened by their float, if you want to call it that, they were near the end of the line and had yet to march at 5 p.m. No more than a dozen people were assembled.

Gay, Jewish activist and lawyer Martin Gladstone, who produced two documentaries at his own expense about QuAIA, figures with (ISIS-led) atrocities like beheadings, the rapes and the genocides of minorities happening before our eyes, QuAIA ended up looking “even more ridiculous” than they already were for viciously attacking “the only gay friendly pluralistic liberal democracy” in the Middle East.

Their demise was most certainly not due to any attempts by the majority of city council — other than Councillor James Pasternak — or Pride’s organizers or the city’s bureaucrats to do what’s right to get this group and their noxious message out of the parade. In fact, despite the pushback from many in the gay community, Jewish activists and the mainstream media, City Hall and Pride’s organizers enabled their existence over six years with ridiculous edicts about the need to respect freedom of expression and their ruling that the phrase “Israeli Apartheid” did not violate the city’s anti-discrimination policy.


http://www.torontosun.com/2015/02/27/no-surprise-quaia-is-disbanding