Steve
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Really getting into it |
Location: London, England
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 465
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You may recall that a few weeks ago I posted here a newspaper article in which the terrible plight of Palestinian gays was mentioned. I received the following press notice in an e-mail from the Jerusalem Open House, buy Hagai El-Ad. (Those with even better memories will be pleased to note that Hagai (who suffered from the GBS Syndrome for many months) is back at work with great zeal.
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Jerusalem, August 3rd, 2003
Press Release
First in Israel: Publication Concerning Homosexuality and Sexual Orientation in Arabic
A Shared Initiative of the Jerusalem Open House and Amnesty Israel
For the first time in Israel (or, for that matter, the Middle East), a unique publication is being distributed in the Arabic language concerning homosexuality and sexual orientation. The pamphlet provides professional information in clear, concise language that credibly reviews the matter of sexual identity in its five components: biological sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender roles, and sexual behavior.
Until today, information like this did not exist in Arabic and its absence has made it difficult to create discussion in Palestinian society in Israel and the Palestinian Authority regarding homosexuality. Haneen Maikey, Palestinian Outreach Coordinator for the Jerusalem Open House (JOH): “Ignorance is one of the central causes for prejudice. This booklet deals sensitively with the absence of language and the absence of discussion, in tactful language, appropriate for a traditional, conservative community that does not often discuss issues relating to sexuality openly. We highlight the variety of components of sexual identity and the differences between people in their self-definition.”
Yael Weiss-Rind, director of Amnesty Israel, adds: “There are no borders in human rights – neither geographical, political, cultural, nor of sexual identity. The right to actualize sexual identity is a basic human right, and the information we present in this publication is directed at that.”
The publication is a shared effort of Jerusalem’s LGBTQ center – The Jerusalem Open House – and of Amnesty Israel. In addition to its distribution to institutions of education and social welfare as a published pamphlet, it is also accessible on the web sites of the JOH (direct link: http://www.gay.org.il/joh/marhaba.htm ) and of Amnesty Israel. Maikey adds, “This is the first step in raising this issue to the Palestinian public. This is the beginning of a process that I hope in the future will bring greater understanding and acceptance.”
For more information, and to receive copies of the publication, please contact:
Haneen Maikey, JOH Palestinian Outreach Coordinator, 058-674816 or email marhaba@joh.gay.org.il
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