The Queer Arabs

This is part 2 of a 2-part episode; check out part 1 also released on June 5. Composer Nebal Maysaud discussed the ingrained racism within the classical and new music world.  We also continued our conversation about artists’ panels that just so happen to be all, or mostly, white, even when the topic is literally about diversity and inclusion. Subscribe to Nebal’s Patreon: https://www.patreon...

Composer Nebal Maysaud joined us to talk about the ingrained racism within the classical and new music world.  We also talked about (white) panels that profess to be about diversity and inclusion.  Maybe that should be demonstrated by being inclusive and diverse within the panel itself, but what do we know? Subscribe to Nebal’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nebalmaysaud Visit Nebal’...

We spoke to Karam, communication officer of Mawjoudin.  We talked about the work the organization does in Tunisia, the increased visibility of Tunisia in recent years surrounding queer activism, the importance of not relying solely on western media to gain understanding of in-country issues faced by the LGBTQI+ community, and more. From Karam: “WHO ARE WE? MAWJOUDIN WE EXIST is an officially...

Bita Bell is an international multimedia artist-activist working in contemporary dance, music, and film. Born in Iran and educated in Hong Kong and the United States, she creates audio-visual performative experiences that question contemporary issues. Just prior to the current lockdown, she was choreographing for the Russian feminist punk band PussyRiot’s US tour. Bita joined us for a wonderful co...

Lisa Luxx is a queer poet, essayist and activist of mixed British Syrian heritage. Published in journals, newspapers and anthologies internationally including with publishers such as Hatchette and SAQI. Her work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4, VICE TV and TEDx. Luxx was winner of Out-Spoken Prize for Performance Poetry and nominee for the Arts Foundation Fellowship in Poetry. Founder and host o...

Wake Island duo Phil Manasseh and Nadim Maghzal joined The Queer Arabs to discuss the new music video for their track “Last Ruins,” featured exclusively on Cold Cuts Magazine! We talked about the significance of pop music and the ability of artists to use the genre to push boundaries, the thought processes that led to the making of this music video, Wake Island’s original develop...

Episode 27 in Arabic: Haneen Maikey and Omar Al Khatib from AlQaws! الحلقة 27 بالعربية: حنين معيكي وعمر الخطيب من القوس! Photos from the last Hawamesh events in Jerusalem and Haifa This week, Adam had a conversation with Haneen Maikey and Omar Al Khatib from AlQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity within Palestinian Society. We talked about the history of Al-Qaws as an organization, the unique chal...

We talked to Rainbow Street Co-Founder & Executive Director Kevin Steen! Rainbow Street is an international protection organization for LGBTQ people in the Middle East and North Africa.  It partners with local organizers to provide shelter and other resources for queer people in need.  During this episode, we discussed what led to the founding of this organization, the roles of Rainbow Street...

We were thrilled to be joined by Haneen Maikey and Izzy Mustafa from alQaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society! We discussed building a politically queer grassroots movement in Palestine, connecting to queer Palestinians in diaspora, confronting Pinkwashing (a tactic of normalizing Israeli hegemony through images of queer-friendliness) both internationally and within Palestin...

Rolla Selbak is a Palestinian-American filmmaker, writer, and director whose work has pushed boundaries of representation for Arab, Muslim, and queer characters. Our delightful discussion included the unexpected beginnings of her film career, navigating pushback and censorship, building empathy through storytelling, and the importance of trash TV.  Heads Up: Her latest project, CHOKE–about a...

Nebal Maysaud has a new podcast called The Post Arabesque; their first episode features Alia of The Queer Arabs podcast, and we are airing it on our podcast to give you all an intro to theirs!  Watch for more episodes on their podcast soon! Please support Nebal on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nebalmaysaud

Hello everyone!  Our love goes out to you all during this difficult time.  This episode features the wonderful Andrew who created a space for queer SWANA artists: nafs.space.  Andrew grew up in Denmark with his parents (who are from Egypt), and now lives in London.  In this episode, we discuss the importance of queer SWANA spaces, the lack of international awareness of the issue of racism in Denma...

We spoke to Layle and Kayan who run the online zine Zafaraan Collective!  Check out the website to see all of the issues:  https://www.zafaraan.org/ This space serves as a queer collective of SWANA art; please reach out to Kayan and Layle at za3cme@gmail.com if you’d like to submit a piece.  This is the email address with which to donate to their PayPal account as well. Please follow them on...

Beruit-based writer, actress, and storyteller Dima Mkhayel Matta (Follow on IG: @dimamatta) joined Nadia Khayrallah (@nadiainherownworld) and Adam Elsayigh (@adamelsayigh) to talk about her recent solo show, her storytelling series Cliffhangers Storytelling, the challenges of navigating censorship and orientalist tropes, the importance of (queer) art in revolution, and more! She also reads a few e...

Ellie and Aldo discuss the geometry of a gender queer life, existing in traditionally masculine spaces and spill their gender fluids all over this episode.   IG :  amateurbadass

Salon Al-Mahjar صالون المهجر is an open mic for immigrant queer, trans, and allied artists, actors, activists, writers, storytellers, dancers, singers, musicians, poets, feminists, thinkers, teachers, and historians from Central & West Asia and North Africa.  Salon 8 was curated by Hannah Aliza Goldman and Sivan Battat.  They also presented pieces during the salon! hannah-goldman.com IG: @imha...

Adam Darko is back to talk to us about his new single, “White Desert” – check it out here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=011fCciWlE0 On this episode, Adam talks about the meaning of this beautiful track and the technical aspects that went into creating this.  He tells us about the music collective of which he is a co-founder, the Coup d’etat collective (which is such a fi...

Intesar Toufic (scholar, writer, percussionist, online personality, and so much more) joins us to talk about the Lebanese revolution.  Later in the conversation, we manage to switch to the topic of fetishes.  A helping of revolution and a serving of kinks on Valentine’s Day just seems like the right thing.  Intesar was so much fun and informative to talk to – enjoy! Follow on FB: Scand...

This is part two of a two-part episode serving you some insecuri-tea!  During this portion, we (Nadia Khayrallah, Adam Elsayigh, and Alia) talk about our feelings regarding dating apps.  Naturally, this leads into the discussion of app-based (and other ways of) Arabic learning. Credit goes to Nadia for the episode name! Follow Nadia on IG @nadiainherownworld and Adam @adamelsayigh Nadia’s website:...

This is part one of a two-part episode featuring three homo sapiens!  During this portion, we (Nadia Khayrallah, Adam Elsayigh, and Alia) reflect on feelings pertaining to our art practice and where we are currently with that.  We also discuss our thoughts related to the word “activist” and whether or not we claim the label for ourselves. Credit goes to Nadia for the episode name! Foll...

Content warning:  This episode contains references to sexual abuse & suicide. This is an episode about reaching turning points in life, and how it is never late to reach those points.  The theme is mental health; Ellie and Alia give updates on how their lives are going in that regard.  This episode is barely edited because it was tough listening back through it.  Thank you for understanding.

What do hot air balloons, nunneries, chocolate ice cream, and aloe vera have in common?  Glad you asked – what they have in common is that they’re all mentioned in this episode.  Listen to hear how Ellie and Alia combine these things into highly intellectual discourse.

This is an episode in which we (Ellie and Alia) muddle through our thoughts on, mainly, internet culture surrounding the Trump administration’s recent attack on Iran.  This is not the time for funny memes; it is not the time for white Americans to simplify the situation or to make it about themselves.  Excuse our disjointed discussion – you’ll hear us just trying to figure our th...

Ellie & Alia discuss 2019 both personally and podcast-wise, and talk about hopes for this year.  Happy New Year to you all!

For the last episode of this year, we bring you a glimpse into a party called Laylit.  As the event listing describes it, it is a party celebrating the diverse music from the MENA region and its diaspora.  “Stretching all the way back to the 50s and diving into today’s contemporary scene, each LayLit party takes you on a genre-spanning musical trip, highlighting the incredible diversit...