We recently posted an op-ed by Carolyn Klaasen, a member of Young, Jewish & Proud. Carolyn argued that a queer safe space is one where queers can “strategize, energize, and organize to fight for our safety outside of that space.” She applies this understanding to a dispute over whether queer Palestinian solidarity activists should be allowed to use the New York City LGBT Community Center as a space for meetings and organizing.
Her op-ed has received several interesting comments pushing back on her argument that queer safe spaces require tolerance or embracing of certain types of (some would say radical) queer activism, such as this one:
Leave Middle east politics out of the LGBT rights movement. like most queers, I strongly support Israel- but I dont want to let my political beliefs in one arena effect my relationships with other LGBT activists.
It would be worth your while to read Carolyn’s original op-ed, as well as the comments. And of course, join in the conversation yourself!
