Veiled Bodies of Muslim Nonnormative Sexualities: Notes from a Youth Ethnography in Turkey The veiling experiences of two LGBTI+ women in Turkey open questions about the discursive constructions of femininity, masculinity, piousness, LGBTI+ secularity, and how these are used in political rhetoric. By Zeynep Kuyumcu
From Cairo to Berlin: Architectures of Homophobia What does a police raid on a bathhouse in Cairo have in common with a police raid on a queer rave in Berlin? Through an examination of two case studies of homophobic violence in Cairo and Berlin, separated by temporal and spatial dimensions, the architecture of homophobia employed by state and media is revealed. By Ahmed Awadalla
Political homophobia and the making of a rainbow criminal in Turkey In the past months, Turkey has prosecuted students who have displayed rainbow flags in Istanbul, indicating a pattern of state-induced political homophobia and violence against marginalized groups, together with the motivation to delegitimize the political opposition in Turkey and elsewhere. By Tunay Altay
Women, Queers, and Far-Right Politics in Israel/Palestine Israel's embrace of far-right politics rendered the lives of the marginalized Jewish population and Palestinians ever more precarious with forces that promote women’s and queer rights, in tension with forces promoting misogyny and homophobia, all contributing to the contemporary far-right political landscape in Israel. By Sa’ed Atshan and Katharina Galor
School as a Battlefield: The Debate on Sexuality Education in Ukraine Over the past decade, activists and CSOs have argued with conservative and religious groups in Ukraine over the introduction of the so-called “comprehensive sexuality education” in Ukrainian schools. By Maryna Shevtsova
Queer Feminist Perspectives on Political Homophobia and Anti-Feminism Dossier This Dossier contains articles, emerged from the conference „Queer Feminist Perspectives on Political Homophobia and Anti-Feminism in the Middle East and Europe“, which brought together academics, activists and artists within a digital space.
Pride and Prejudice: Georgia after the Escalation of Violence against Civil Society Analysis More than 50 people were injured in attacks on journalists and civil society in Tbilisi in early July in connection with Pride Week. The German Federal Government and the EU should strongly urge their Georgian partners to address the violence through prompt and comprehensive legal and political action. By Dr. Sonja Katharina Schiffers
Queer women in Uganda: "Don't rush into coming out" Interview In East Africa, politics and the church propagate the idea that homosexuality is "un-African". In order to maintain their own power. However, queer life and love has always existed in Uganda. Homophobia, on the contrary, can be called a colonial import. We spoke with Ssenfuka Joanita Warry about queer activism in Uganda and why she takes every opportunity, she can to speak out and fight misconceptions about homosexuality. By Claudia Simons
Queer community in South Africa - "I am feminism!" Interview The queer community is not free from exclusions and the fight for resources.. Class plays as much a role as ideas about femininity and masculinity. Black trans*women from rural areas, who are often poor, face particularly strong discrimination. Therefore, the queer community itself must address its own internalised prejudices, distorted perceptions, and exclusions. A conversation with Seoketsi Mooketsi (Seopowerr). By Claudia Simons
Queer activism in Kenya - "speak truth to power!" Interview Queer feminism allows us to understand that patriarchy harms all of us and only an intersectional approach enables collective liberation and working together in solidarity. Queer resistance can also be fun - and sometimes a dandy outfit is enough to make patriarchy shake. We talked to Yvee Oduor about activism and mobilization of genderqueer people in Kenya. By Claudia Simons