“LGBTQ persons living under PA and Hamas control suffer severe persecution and ostracism. Many Palestinian homosexuals end up fleeing to Israel.”
On Monday night, a "Queers for Palestine" march was held in New York City.
In Washington Square Park, the crowd yelled "f*ck Israel," with speakers telling the crowd, "we understand that Palestinian liberation is black liberation."
Marching through the streets and into the park, the group chanted, "hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go," "queer rights, trans rights, we say no to genocide," and "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
The march was led by people holding a banner that stated "Gays 4 Gaza, ceasefire now" and "Queers for Liberated Palestine."
One speaker in the park led the crowd in chants of "resistance is justified when people are occupied," referring to the actions undertaken by the terrorist group Hamas against Israel, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,400 Israelis and over 200 people being taken hostage.
Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2006, and rules the territory under Sharia law.
According to a March 2021 statement from United Nations Watch, "LGBTQ persons living under PA [Palestinian Authority] and Hamas control suffer severe persecution and ostracism. Many Palestinian homosexuals end up fleeing to Israel."
"Testimonies from gay Palestinians who managed to escape recount harrowing torture by both family and PA/Hamas security forces, often successful attempts to coerce them to inform on others, forced marriages and death threats, among other things," the statement read.
"For example, one gay Gaza Palestinian now living in exile in Turkey described being arrested and tortured by Hamas on suspicion of being gay: 'They arrested me, hanged me from the ceiling, beat me up and interrogated me for five days.'"
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
