The Southern Colorado Equality Alliance stands against violence, war, genocide, apartheid, and the oppression of marginalized communities. Therefore, we are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. There is no justification for the violence that is happening indiscriminately against the Palestinian people. We are deeply saddened by the loss of over 20,000 innocent lives including over 10,000 children. Thousands more are injured and even more are still lost under the rubble. Israel has cut off their access to water, electricity, and fuel, and has forced the displacement of over 1.1 million people. They are seeking shelter in Hospitals, Churches, and Schools which are also being targeted. Medical Staff, Journalists, and Humanitarian aid workers and their families are being targeted and killed. There is a clear intent to force the Palestinians out of their home in Gaza.
As an LGBTQIA+ organization, we call on other LGBTQIA+ organizations to stand with us in solidarity with the Palestinians in their demand for basic human rights. We stand firmly against Pinkwashing. Pinkwashing or Rainbow Washing is propaganda used by the settler colony of Israel to distract humanity from its occupation, Indiscriminate killing, and forced displacement of the Palestinian people. We encourage our community to do the research and learn the history to know that this violence did not start on Oct 7th. This has been happening for the past 75 years. It is time for us to speak up and call for the Palestinians to attain their full rights and freedom. There cannot be LGBTQIA+ rights without basic human rights. We understand that queer liberation goes hand in hand with the liberation of all peoples. We oppose discrimination and oppression of all peoples and recognize the intersectional nature of this oppression. We condemn Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism in all forms. We mourn with our Muslim and Jewish community members and recognize our Muslim and Jewish LGBTQIA+ siblings. We also recognize our queer siblings in Palestine who are currently calling for us to join with them and stand in solidarity.
We hope that our community will join us in solidarity condemning this violence against humanity and standing with the Palestinians in calling for their basic human rights and freedom. Please join us in calling for an immediate ceasefire by emailing or calling your elected officials. We also urge you to become involved in local groups that are organizing for change in your immediate community. We call for not only an immediate ceasefire in Gaza but also the opening of the border so that life-saving humanitarian aid can freely enter. We call for an end to the siege of Gaza and freedom for the Palestinian people.
In Solidarity,
Southern Colorado Equality Alliance Board
References
alQaws. (2021, May 26). Queer Liberation & Palestine. http://www.alqaws.org/articles/Queer-Liberation-Palestine?category_id=15
Death toll in Gaza tops 23,000 as U.N. warns Gaza has become “uninhabitable.” Democracy Now! (2024, January 8). https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/8/headlines/death_toll_in_gaza_tops_23_000_as_un_warns_gaza_has_become_uninhabitable
Palqueers. (n.d.). A Liberatory Demand from Queers in Palestine. https://queersinpalestine.noblogs.org/post/2023/11/08/87/
Queer Crescent. (n.d.). Pinkwashing Resources. https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1DpE3nNofb5Ptj92A1zvjqJS3HlXzuApFee207cmQuys/mobilebasic
Say no to pinkwashing. BDS Movement. (2022, February 25). https://bdsmovement.net/pinkwashing
Tamarkin, S. (2023, November 22). Why Queer Solidarity with Palestine is not “chickens for KFC.” Them. https://www.them.us/story/lgbtq-solidarity-palestine-saed-atshan
For more information and resources to help stand in solidarity with our Queer siblings in Palestine utilize this resource document. https://docs.google.com/document/d/12fMTV6L5Za8RkaukUdRMF6kB1V2ZPeAgUC7fXWmGWi8/mobilebasic?urp=gmail_link
