Al Qaws

Description

AlQaws is a Palestinian civil society organization working on sexual and gender diversity. Its stated vision is a vibrant and just Palestinian society that celebrates diverse sexualities, sexual orientations and gender identities. It describes its politics as Palestinian community-centered, shaped by the priorities of the Palestinian community it belongs to.

The organization engages and supports people, including but not limited to those who identify as LGBT and queer, around lived experiences of gender and sexuality. It runs workspaces and programs across rural and urban Palestinian communities, including a national hotline supporting transgender people, local discussion events on sexuality called Hawamesh, and training for leaders in Palestinian institutions such as schools, youth groups and human rights organizations. It also produces publications, seminars and an annual report on queer politics in Palestine.

AlQaws began as an independent local project in Jerusalem at the end of 2001 and was formally established as a grassroots group in November 2007. It now has four centers, in Haifa, East Jerusalem, Jaffa and Ramallah.