Join us for a peer support group in which LGBTQ persons from the MENA region can process experiences in a safe space. This group will be facilitated by Wardeh Hattab, LCSW, and Nick Baitoo, LMSW, and will take place Thursday, November 29, at 6:00pm at the LGBT Center in Manhattan. Register Here.
Come join us for dinner on Monday, December 10th, from 7:00pm – 9:30pm. We will be serving food and providing an opportunity for us to come together as a community and get to know each other, reflect on the year’s events, and help us plan for what to do in 2019! Register Here.
Hishik Bishik – Drag The Halls 12/12 Drag The Halls – Hishik Bishik – A Middle Eastern and North African Drag Revue! Weeeerrreeeeeeee BACK! This time to celebrate the holidays! While some may deck the halls – hunty we DRAG The Halls – and bring in all the yule tide! Hishik Bishik features a cast of Middle Eastern and North African Drag performers exploring their identities at the intersection of art and drag. Get discounted advance tix!
Open Call for Board Members! Tarab NYC is seeking new board members. If you feel that you can help Tarab NYC build community, develop relationships, fundraise, manage operations, create programs, and spread our mission of fostering an inclusive and safe community for Queer MENA people, then please consider joining our board. The deadline for applications is December 17th. Learn More!
Join Tarab NYC for our second annual Halloween party at Henrietta Hudson on Monday October 29 at 7:00 PM. Happy hour until 9:00 PM. Put on your fabulous costume and come have a blast at our Middle Eastern/North African Halloween party. There will be music, drinks, dance and laughs. There will also be prizes for best costumes, Game on! Want to volunteer? Email Reem@TarabNYC.org – we have some incentives for volunteers too! Advance tickets are $10 for members – $15 for non-members – $20 for everyone at the door – save some $$$ and get your tickets now! Click for more information!
Hishik Bishik Was a Success
Over 100 of you joined us on October 8th for Hishik Bishik – A Middle Eastern and North African Drag Revue! Special thanks to Farfasha, Maramia, Dorian Gaye, Camilla al Atshana, & Gul Nessa! We hope to have another allstar Drag Revue in December – more details to follow. Find More Pictures on Facebook!
Welcome Mirna to the Tarab NYC Board!
Mirna joins us after a long journey of intersectional LGBTQ work in Lebanon, Michigan, as well as nationally with MASGD (The Muslim Alliance of Gender and Sexual Diversity). Mirna is a mama of twins and a student at CUNY Law. Mirna loves to have conversations around imagining a world with no incarceration, no borders, and healthy accountability forums without disposability. Contact Mirna
Community Support Group – November 14th
Join us for a peer support group for our community members to process experiences in a safe space. Group discussion can foster support and develop ways of coping with struggles afflicting our community. This group will be facilitated by Wardeh Hattab, LCSW and Nick Baitoo, LMSW. Please register here by Tuesday, November 13 to secure a place in the group as there is limited space. Register to join the Community Support Group
Save the Date! Community Dinner on Tuesday, November 13, at 7pm
We are hosting a Community Dinner on Tuesday, November 13, at 7pm. There will be food (on us!), as well as opportunities to interact with fellow community members and help us plan our next year’s events! Stay tuned for updates!
Member Stories – Now Collecting
Tarab NYC is still collecting the stories, experiences, and narratives of our incredible Queer MENA community. We plan to share these stories on our website so that community members and others can learn about our experiences on our terms. Follow the link to find out how to submit your ideas!
Other Stuff
From time to time, Tarab NYC is asked by third parties to share notices with the community. As a volunteer run organization we are unable to completely vet if these individuals and organizations are in full alignment with our mission and values. However, we thought you may find them interesting and are including them below.
Mark for Redaction is a group exhibition from October 11 until November 11, envisioned by former flux resident Razan Al-Salah and curated by Hilal Khalil, this exhibition showcases multi-disciplinary forms of contemporary art from self-identified Kweer (queer), lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or gender non-conforming people who have ties to what is colloquially known al-‘ālam al-‘arabī (South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA)) and the respective diaspora. Mark for Redaction seeks to build community and provide a safe(r) space for artists to discuss and unpack the many layers of identity by displaying personal works of art that challenges notions of visibility, “Kweerness”, and “coming out” in relation to the colonialist concepts of the “Orient” and the “Occident”. Set in a reimagined apartment that mirrors the private apartments and studios of “Kweer” artists, Mark for Redaction presents installations, performances, workshops, screenings, and discussions.See the Full Calendar of Events
On Tuesday, over 150 of you came out to support alQaws – القوس للتعددية الجنسية والجندرية في المجتمع الفلسطيني and the next 10 years of #Palestinian and #QueerLiberation! Together we raised over $2500! Special thanks to Mark Balahadia | Jendog Lonewolf | Morgan Bassichis | exHOTic other | YaliniDream | T Wise | Sister Selva | DJ FURSA
Monday, October 8th – Hishik Bishik – A Middle Eastern and North African Drag Revue! Hishik Bishik features a cast of Middle Eastern and North African Drag performers exploring their identities at the intersection of art and drag. This is the time for Arab, Iranian, Turkish, Kurdish, Amazigh, Assyrian, Armenian and other MENA Drag Queens and Kings to shine! Performers to be announced soon! Interested in performing? Email tarab@tarabnyc.org – performers should plan for up to two performances with at least one being MENA themed. Doors at 6PM – Showtime at 7PM – more on Facebook!
Performers Dorian Gaye | Camilla al Atshana | Najwa Karam | Farfasha | MaraMia | Kasaysseh | Shaikh ‘zbayer
In commemoration of Coming Out Day, We want to recognize that the concept of coming out is complicated. While many in our community have had positive or negative experiences coming out, we recognize that others have not had the privilege of being able to come out, or choose not to because of family, religious or personal reasons. On October 11th, National Coming Out Day, Tarab NYC hosts a Writing and Storytelling workshop where participants will have the opportunity to reflect, write, discuss and share about their own personal experiences as queer, trans, and gender non-conforming people from the MENA region. Participants will have an opportunity to get a sneak preview of Mark for Redaction on exhibit from Oct 12 to Nov 12 at Flux Factory. $5 donation fee – no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Our next Community Support Group takes place on Thursday, October 18 at 6:00pm!
Queer Haflaween is coming back… AHHH YA WAILY!!! Join Tarab NYC for our second annual Halloween party at Henrietta Hudson on Monday October 29 at 7:00 PM. Extended happy hour until 9:00 PM.
Put on your fabulous costume and come have a blast at our Middle Eastern/North African Halloween party. There will be music, drinks, dance and laughs. There will also be prizes for best costumes, Game on! Come one come all! Allies are welcome.
Advance tickets: $10 for members ( Just login to your tarabnyc.org account) $15 for non-members
Door: $15 for members $20 for everyone else
Note: Costumes depicting ethnic/racial groups or cultures worn by individuals not of that culture are not allowed.
In commemoration of Coming Out Day, We want to recognize that the concept of coming out is complicated. While many in our community have had positive or negative experiences coming out, we recognize that others have not had the privilege of being able to come out, or choose not to because of family, religious or personal reasons.
On October 11th, National Coming Out Day, Tarab NYC hosts a Writing and Storytelling workshop where participants will have the opportunity to reflect, write, discuss and share about their own personal experiences as queer, trans, and gender non-conforming people from the MENA region. Participants will also have an opportunity to get a sneak preview of Mark for Redaction on exhibit from Oct 12 to Nov 12 at Flux Factory.
$5 donation fee – no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Location: Flux Factory, 39-31 29th street, Long Island City, NY, 11101.
Tarab NYC Presents: Hishik Bishik – A Middle Eastern and North African Drag Revue!
Hishik Bishik features a cast of Middle Eastern and North African Drag performers exploring their identities at the intersection of art and drag. This is the time for Arab, Iranian, Turkish, Kurdish, Amazigh, Assyrian, Armenian and other MENA Drag Queens and Kings to shine! Performers & Open Runway Categories TBA SOON!
Interested in performing? Email tarab@tarabnyc.org – performers should plan for up to two performances with at least one being MENA themed.
Location: Henrietta Hudson, 438 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014 Doors: 6PM Showtime: 7PM Cover: $5 gets you extended happy hour until 9pm! (Members FREE)
