Tarab NYC on the Orlando Pulse Massacre

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Tarab NYC, a community of LGBTQ and/or gender non-conforming Arab, Middle Eastern, and/or North African (MENA) people in the greater New York City area mourns for the lives lost at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016. We send our sincerest condolences to all that have been affected by this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.

We take this time to reflect on the violence that all LGBTQIA people continue to experience all over the world and stand in solidarity with the entire LGBTQIA community as we hope to move forward together to fight the divisive forces that affect us all. Tarab NYC is a non-sectarian and secular organization that respects all religious and nonreligious backgrounds as equal, though we recognize that many of our members identify as Muslim. While this tragedy took place during Pride month, a time of commemoration, remembrance and continued fight for justice, this also occurs as many of our members are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting, prayer, charity, and reflection.

We urge our community and allies to refrain from rhetoric that lays responsibility on any one community as we brace for the inevitable backlash against people from the MENA region. The acts of an individual are not representative of any one ethnicity, race, or faith. Islamophobia is at an all time high in our country and it is important that we stand in solidarity with all peoples regardless of their ethnic or sexual and gender identity. We ask all people to resist the forces of division and hatred, and to stand against homophobia as well as against Xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bigotry. We echo the statements put out by our QPOC allies MASGD, NQAPIA, and SALGA NYC.

We are committed to promoting the safety for all members of our community.  We will hosting a community call at 10PM ET tonight for all Queer Middle Eastern and North African People that would like to talk things through. To sign up visit: http://goo.gl/forms/rzihSo5D05EnJTg82

Please contact AVP if you have been a victim of violence at 212-714-1141.

If you are attending any of the community forums/rallies/vigils below, we have started a WhatsApp group so you can connect with other individuals. Sign up at : http://goo.gl/forms/CVVprtACY8r1F5cz1

If you need to speak with someone at TarabNYC, please call (347) 903-3336

 

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Tarab NYC, a non-profit, fosters an inclusive and safe community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and/or gender non-conforming Arab, Middle Eastern, and/or North African (MENA) people in the greater New York City area. We recognize the full diversity of ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and gender within our communities, including but not limited to, the Arab, Middle Eastern, North African and LGBTQIA communities in New York City.

Tarab NYC works within MENA communities to reduce stigma towards queer people and within queer communities to reduce stigma toward people of MENA decent. We oppose policies that profile and target people who are from the MENA region or Muslim or who are perceived to be Muslim, in the name of national security. We also firmly reject the narrative that Muslims or Arabs, as a whole, are homophobic and transphobic.

Info on events:

NYC Vigil Information

TONIGHT
Where: Stonewall Inn
53 Christopher Street New York, NY
When: Monday June 13th 6 PM

Where: Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square New York, NY
When: Sunday June 12th 6 PM

Where: Diversity Plaza 37rd Rd & 74th St
Jackson Heights New York, NY
When: Sunday June 12th 7:30 PM

TOMORROW
Where: Stonewall Inn
53 Christopher Street New York, NY
When: Monday June 13th 6 PM