Queers4Palestine is a LGBT pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel advocacy slogan that received national media attention when a Philadelphia group by that name blocked a June 2024 Pride march in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group allegedly compared a Philadelphia Pride group to the racist Klu Klux Klan and the Israeli military, the latter of which it claimed is committing “genocide.” ¹  

Background

Little public information is available about Queers4Palestine. It may be affiliated with a Sacramento organization with the same name which accused LGBT and Pride march organizers in the city of trying to ignore the Palestinian conflict. ² Queers4Palestine Winnipeg and Queers4Palestine Toronto have partnered with pro-Palestinian organizations to protest in Canadian provinces. ³

Activities

An Instagram post calling for LGBT groups to oppose capitalism and other issues it says hide attacks on “Queer people” across the world. It also accused LGBT leaders of not standing up for LGBT people when a cause is not supported by U.S. policy, corporations, or others in power. ⁴

Queers4Palestine Winnipeg and Queers4Palestine Toronto have partnered with pro-Palestinian organizations to protest in Canadian provinces. ⁵

The Philadelphia affiliate’s first march was held in March 2024 and attracted 200 attendees. ⁶

1.  Zimmerman, David. “Anti-Israel Marchers Led by ‘Queers4Palestine’ Block Philadelphia Gay Pride Parade: ‘No Pride in Genocide’. “ National Review. June 3, 2024. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.nationalreview.com/news/anti-israel-marchers-led-by-queers4palestine-block-philadelphia-gay-pride-parade-no-pride-in-genocide/
2. Sanchez, Sabrina. “ ‘I can’t celebrate right now’: Sacramento LGBTQIA+ community members boycotting Pride, hosting vigil instead.” abc10.com. June 7, 2024. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/lgbtqia-community-members-boycotting-pride-hosting-vigil-instead/103-65e08c87-fbbf-49df-854e-c4a1bc35bd3b
3. Maimann, Kevin. “ ‘Opposition and rage’: queer groups challenge Pride to divest from Israel.” The Breach. June 7, 2024. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://breachmedia.ca/opposition-and-rage-queer-groups-challenge-pride-to-divest-from-israel/
4. Queers 4 Palestinian Liberation (@queers4palphl). “NO PRIDE IN GENOCIDE! NO PRIDE IN EMPIRE!” Instagram. June 1, 2024. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C7rmNt5RRsr/?img_index=3
5. Maimann, Kevin. “ ‘Opposition and rage’: queer groups challenge Pride to divest from Israel.” The Breach. June 7, 2024. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://breachmedia.ca/opposition-and-rage-queer-groups-challenge-pride-to-divest-from-israel/
6. Piette, Betsey. “Queers4Palestine PHL mobilizes for Gaza.” Workers World. March 20, 2024. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.workers.org/2024/03/77597/