The Queer Arabs

الحلقه ١٧ بالعربي: حوار مع ميس عن حياتها في #العراق، #الكويت و #سوريا. تكلمنا عن دراسات ميت و تحاربها في مجالات الكومبيوتر، علم الاجتماع و القضايا المتعلقة بمجتمع الميم Arabic Episode 17: A conversation with Mais about life in #Iraq, #Syria, #Kuwait, and #Colorado. Her study of computer science, sociology, and queer issues. Instagram: mais_nema Gmail: [email protected]

Meet Adam Darko, an Algerian Youtuber and hip hop artist.  We talked to him about his experience as a trans guy from Algeria, his recent move to Canada, and more.  The conversation was very cathartic and we talked about the challenges that happen and the strength that comes from having that SWANA/queer intersection.  Adam is such a beautiful person and we are so glad we got to connect.  Follow him @theadamdarko on Instagram! Trans Trenderz, which Adam is involved with, can be found here: https://www.transtrenderz.com Check out Adam on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEbvMiWT5sIAnwkqU9h0oAw

We talked to Leila Khoury, a Syrian-American graduate student who is currently working toward a Master of Architecture and Certificate in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  This was such an incredible conversation about a topic that does not get nearly enough attention: the theft and cultural appropriation of cultural and historic objects from so much of the world by, namely, Europeans and Americans.  Leila has a powerful piece called Near East, which critiques the forced migration of Levantine artifacts into European collections.  For example, at the Louvre, Leila noticed some of these artifacts that…

During this episode, we got to talk to two of the wonderful people behind the children’s book You Be You! Explaining Gender, Love & Family.   We talked to the author of the book – Jonathan Branfman (pictured below) – and the translator of the Arabic version of the book, Aseel Houmsse.  We are very grateful to have a copy of the Arabic version of this important book, and we highly encourage everyone to check it out!  It is offered in many languages and more languages are expected to be added in the near future.  This book will help normalize the…

We got to talk to Quinn Fati, a beautifully badass human we met last year at Yallapunk.  They’re a visual artist and a musician; during this episode, we talked about exploring different areas of art throughout life and how important it is to allow oneself to do that.  We also talked about body hair and how everyone should feel free to keep or get rid of their own body hair in the way they goddamn want!  We discussed the process of coming out as trans, about our love for Yallapunk, and more.  Quinn also shared about how their Persian-American identity…

Alireza Shojaian is an incredible artist from Iran who is living in Beirut.  One of our recent guests – Munir – was kind enough to get us in touch with him!  We were destined to talk to him, as it turns out that we had seen his work in New York City last year at Mark for Redaction (check out the episode from that event here: https://thequeerarabs.com/podcast/episode-37-in-english-mark-for-redaction).   Alireza’s queer-centered art provokes emotions that are lasting and that will linger in the back of your mind for a long time after encountering it. An example is “Season Salad” confronts the painful…

Arabic Episode 16: An update from #Lebanon with Hadi Damien (Beirut Pride’s Coordinator). We talked about the media in #Lebanon, legal updates regarding #Grinder, and the pending bill regarding #HIV. الحلقه ١٦ بالعربي: مستجدات من لبنان من هادي داميان (منسق بيروت برايد). تكلمنا عن مستجدات الإعلام في #لبنان و القضايا القانونية المتعلقة ب #غرايندر والقانون المقترح بصدد فيروس نقص المناعة المكتسب.

Raphael Khouri, a playwright who lives in Germany, is in Vienna at the moment for their play, She He Me, to be shown at the Kosmos Theater!  The Jordanian playwright is bringing such important queer (specifically trans) Arab representation to theater.  It was truly an honor to talk to Raphael, and we love the work they’re doing.  Thank you all for listening!  To get in touch with Raphael, you can email them at [email protected] and/or connect with them on Facebook (Raphaël Aimé Khouri) and Instagram @raphael_khouri. The play will be performed from March 1 to March 16! https://kosmostheater.at/produktion/she-he-me/?fbclid=IwAR2WWfYOgwMn5GEWRybtYeeJLSEKjhEh1eQTM9N8wBkMX8ycI5AGxX_yGng

We talked to the incredibly talented gay Lebanese photographer, Munir Abdallah, based in Beirut.  This conversation is what has really inspired Ellie to genuinely want to visit Lebanon for the first time in her adult life.  Munir’s candidness and openness about queer life in Beirut was very cathartic to hear about and talk about.  Munir has photographed queer beauty in the form of sexual expression.  Munir celebrates the beauty of the nude human form, and his photography is very direct and feels liberating to look at.  His recent exhibition, “Fleeting Acts,” received many positive and appreciative responses in Beirut.  Follow…

الحلقه ١٥ بالعربي: لقاء مع اسيل الحمصي. تكلمنا عن تجربه اسيل في ترجمه كتاب “كن نفسك” إلى اللغه العربي. الكتاب يشرح مفاهيم الجندر و الحب بصوره مبسطه. Arabic episode 15: An interview with Aseel Houmsse. We talked about Aseel’s experience translating “You Be You,” a book explaining gender, love, and family, to Arabic. Book by Jonathan Branfman (Author), Julie Benbassat (Illustrator), Aseel Houmsse (Translator) To purchase this book, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Arabic-Explaining-Gender-Diversity-Justice/dp/1983681776?fbclid=IwAR3nGXQDuUxBA11kwzjs6DHS1W_rXqDlKuWbey87tlAiDvMkDma8ykKAeiA