Sanctuary Queer Arts Solidarity Statement
Sanctuary Queer Arts stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
We are witnessing multiple atrocities and humanitarian crises in Gaza enforced by the state of Israel and supported by the UK and other Western governments. We stand with our peers and colleagues (Queers in Palestine, Arts Workers for Palestine Scotland, BPOC writers Network, Voices4London and many others) in the knowledge that silence at this urgent time of crisis and escalating genocide is not a neutral position.
Sanctuary Queer Arts is a Community Interest Company. We exist to provide safe, sanctuary spaces for LGBTQIA+ artists in Scotland, to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices and to provide and support spaces for the community to come together to celebrate, exchange and commune.
We believe that standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine is a queer issue. A true queer liberation is intertwined with all liberation struggles – including the fight against antisemitism, and for a free Palestine. Palestinian people are not responsible for the actions of Hamas, equally neither are peoples of Jewish faith responsible for the actions of the government of Israel.
We support Arts Workers for Palestine Scotland’s Open Letter calling for all of Scotland’s arts and literary organisations to call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to siege on Gaza and to stand with the people of Palestine - and therefore stand against settler-colonialism, racism, Islamophobia, and genocide.
What are we doing?
Company co-directors have written to our representatives to demand an immediate ceasefire and an end to the siege.
Company co-directors have signed the Queers in Palestine solidarity letter and International queer solidarity with Palestine Open Letter, linked below.
Sanctuary is writing to the cultural organisations we partner with calling them to use their voice to stand with the people of Palestine and call for a ceasefire.
Sanctuary is working with an anti racism worker to help our organisation and workers take stock of our current practices and processes, identify where we need to improve and set out a clear plan for training and development.
Sanctuary is updating our ‘equal opportunities’ and ‘creating sanctuary spaces’ policies to provide clear, actionable resources and organisational processes to protect workers, artists and audiences from acts of Islamophobia, antisemitism, and other forms of racism during this period, and in the future.
Sanctuary is following our peers’ examples (eg UBelong’s and Scottish BPOC Writers Network) and adding a new point to our Creating Sanctuary Spaces Policy: “Pro-occupation, pro-war, pro-colonialism, fascism, and white supremacist sentiments will not be permitted on our platforms and in our spaces.”
Inspired by Arika, Sanctuary will be creating and commiting to a Boycott Divest and Sanction policy.
Sanctuary seeks to be representative of and led by the LGBTQIA+ community in Scotland.
We invite feedback/discussion/learning/understanding in order to continually be further informed of the multiple experiences of our diverse community.
Email us: hello@sanctuaryqueerarts.com
What can you do?
Engage, educate yourself and seek out multiple sources of information. Don’t rely on the mainstream media and be mindful of propaganda and misinformation
Write to your representatives: your MP (UK), MSP (Scotland)
Find your representatives: TheyWorkForYou
Attend and/or organise a protest in your local area
Sign open letters from organisations or collectives you support, share solidarity statements and collective action activities:
Queers in Palestine Statement October 2023
Arts Workers for Palestine for Palestine Scotland Open Letter October 2023
International queer solidarity with Palestine Open Letter October 2023
Sign petitions, for example:
Donate to aid organisations and causes, for example:
Support events platforming Palestinian artists and artists supporting the movement, for example:
Boycott businesses and products that profit from war, more information:
We have composed this statement with reference to:
Queers in Palestine Statement October 2023
Arts Workers for Palestine Scotland Open Letter October 2023
Scottish BPOC Writers Network Statement October 2023
International queer solidarity with Palestine Open Letter October 2023
Further resources and sources of information:
Naamod - a movement of Jews in the UK seeking to end our community’s support for Israel's occupation and apartheid, and to mobilise it in the struggle for freedom, equality and justice for all Palestinians and Israelis
Jewish Voice for Peace - who campaign for Palestine’s freedom and the liberation of all people.
Eye on Palestine - Instagram account reporting from Palestine
Shaun King - Instagram account of independent journalist Shaun King
Democracy now! - Independent global news
Double Down News - Independent UK based global news, supported by rapper and activist Lowkey