Raseef22 and AFE come together for issues related to gender and sexuality

As part of our shared vision regarding human rights issues and the goal of promoting the values of citizenship, freedoms and social justice, the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality (AFE) and Raseef22 have begun a collaborative project to produce a series of articles and investigations related to the LGBT community and issues related to gender and sexuality.

What is novel about this kind of partnership? This question arises during a rather dark period in which “niche” discussions of this kind are not tolerated or certain formative experiences regarding gender become fodder for cheap journalism or superficial conversations that lead to stereotyping.

This partnership takes into account what has been produced in the Arab world regarding these issues in writing, activism, advocacy campaigns and awareness, as well as attempts to bridge the gap between what appears to be a closed activity within narrow circles and the wider public.

The partnership is based on the wide network established by AFE of researchers, activists and journalists, and from their lengthy past experience in the field in order to delve into legal, health, social and political issues relevant to the LGBT community in a new way. Their approach is evidence-based and aims to shed a light on issues regarding gender identity, in a fresh and interesting way rather than a dry academic one.

Over the course of six months, Raseef22 will publish a variety of reports on a daily basis with new approaches, videos and interactive data, in which researchers, activists and journalists will participate. 

Raseef22 will offer the project a platform and journalistic support, stemming from our belief that the only way forward is by talking about our identities and about the changes we want in our societies, and as a bold platform we did not shy from opening discussions on gender and identity on several occasions.

Through this partnership, the website looks forward to reaching greater depths in this debate, far from provocation and with an objective understanding of conditions in the Arab world, as well as highlighting the need to explore gender identity debates as an integral part of the construction of our societies, rather than as a Western imposition which aims at destroying our culture.

Over the course of six months, the site will publish a variety of reports on a daily basis with new approaches, videos and interactive data, in which researchers, activists and journalists will participate. It will also open up a constructive discussion covering all these areas.