Apr 15 2024

Palestine, Pinkwashing, and Bodily Autonomy: Conversation and Poetry with Mx. Yaffa AS

Nadwat Series

April 15, 2024

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location

GSC, 181-183 BSB

Address

1007 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607

Flier’s background is a painting of a sunset over a field of green and wildflowers. That background constitutes the border as there is a large orange box that covers it and where text is written in white and black. In the middle right side there is a framed photo of the guest, a person with long curly hair standing in front of a large tree. They are wearing red lipstick and a black and white shirt in the form of Palestinian tatreez.

Join the Gender and Sexuality Center and the Arab American Cultural Center for a moderated conversation with Mx. Yaffa AS about the lived realities of queer and trans Palestinians, how the struggles for trans and Palestinian liberation and autonomy are intertwined, and why pinkwashing undermines both these interconnected struggles for survival and justice. Yaffa will also share poetry from their recent publication Blood Orange, followed by a book sale and signing. Snacks and sweets provided by a local Palestinian eatery will be served. All proceeds will go to support responsive mutual aid for queer and trans Palestinians living in Palestine or the diaspora and other queer and trans people impacted by genocide.

Mx. Yaffa is an acclaimed disabled, autistic, trans, queer, Muslim, and indigenous Palestinian individual who has received multiple awards for their transformative work around displacement, decolonization, equity, and centering the lived experiences of individuals most impacted by injustice. They are also the head of two Mutual aid organizations that raise roughly $10K each week for trans-Palestinians in Gaza right now. Mx. Yaffa wears many hats in their professional life- they are the Executive Director of the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD), as well as the founder of several non-profits and community projects. They are also an engineer, death and birthing doula, peer support specialist, consultant, and artist. Mx. Yaffa is a storyteller and an equity and transformation consultant, having shared their story with over 150,000 audience members at speaking events globally.

A recent interview with Yaffa about their recently published book of poetry, Blood Orange: https://atmos.earth/palestine-as-the-compass-how-yaffa-names-and-reclaims-home/

Event is co-sponsored by the Gender and Women's Studies Program, Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, and Students for Justice in Palestine.

Contact

Arab American Cultural Center

Date posted

Mar 27, 2024

Date updated

Mar 27, 2024