Queer Strike message to Philadelphia anti-pinkwashing protest

Protest of Israeli ambassador at Equality Forum

Message to the Protest in Philadelphia against Michael Oren
&
"(In)Equality Forum 2012: Pinkwashing and the Palestinian Queer Community"  

Queer Strike joins and supports your protest against pinkwashing at the Equality Forum in Philadelphia.  It is beyond shameful that the Equality Forum has chosen Israel as its "featured nation" and has invited as keynote speaker Michael Oren, Israeli Ambasador to the US, who defends the occupation of Palestine and the bombing by the Israeli military of Gaza, which killed 1400 people. 

The boycott of Israeli apartheid which Palestinian people have called for and which we support must be extended to the Equality Forum.  We have a right to know how much money changed hands to pay for a queer stamp of approval for Israeli crimes against Palestinian women, children and men, including those who are queer.  As LGBT people, some of whom are Jewish, we know what it means to suffer discrimination and even murder.  We refuse to stand by while murderers are honored in our name, and invite all LGBT organizations to join us in protest. 
 
Queer Strike
Philadelphia * San Francisco * London, UK
Part of the Global Women's Strike
queerstrike@queerstrike.net

May 6, 2012