Queering the Map is a moderated online social platform for queer people to anonymously share their stories. The website shows a simple map with location pins representing every queer message posted. When it was created in 2017, the founders could never have imagined the messages that would appear.
In 2023, conflict began between Israel and Gaza’s ruling party, Hamas, after Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Israel quickly began a retaliation campaign with a death toll that rises higher every day. Supplies have been cut off and civilian casualties skyrocket. Among the people here are queer Gazans, people who have already lived under legal discrimination, who are desperately seeking to have their voices heard as loss of electricity and internet are slowly silencing them.
“I’ve always imagine you and me sitting out in the sun, hand-in-hand, free at last…” “The only thing that keeps me patient in Gaza is the sea and you.” “My biggest regret is not kissing this one guy… He died in the bombing. I think a big part of me died too. And soon I will be dead. To younus, I will kiss you in heaven.”
There are messages of people caught in this conflict, expressing their final regrets. The regrets, hopes, and dreams of these people are on full display for the world to see. Many describe homophobia they faces, many describe the loves they lost, that they never had, and that could have been.
Many sources have denied the existence of queer Gazans and queer Palestinians, but they are here, they are queer, and they want their voices to be heard.
Article Link: https://time.com/6326254/queering-the-map-gaza-lgbt-palestinians/
Gender, Politics, and Global Cultures
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