Personal Info
- Country of residence: Palestine
Information
Rawdat Morcos (July 1974, Kafr Yasif village, north of Galilee) is a Palestinian poet and human rights activist. She cares about the rights of homosexuals by establishing the Aswat group, which started as an electronic group for Palestinian lesbians to create a space for talking between them without barriers in 2002. The idea of the group developed in January of 2004 Where Rawda decided to participate with some members of the online community to establish an entity on the ground to be a space for lesbian Palestinian women to meet personally, get to know each other, and discuss and exchange opinions on matters that concern them.
Aswat Group goals
1. Mutual respect and working together for intellectual, gender, and sexual pluralism. 2. Boldness in offering 3. Transparency and openness 4. Harmony between thought and practice 5. Respect for privacy 6. Independence and non-partisanship 7. Partnership and cooperation in planning and implementation.
Being harassed
In July 2003, Radwa was interviewed by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper about the poetry she was writing, but she also announced to the world that she was a lesbian. As a result, Rawda Morcos' car had its windows smashed, its tires punctured and she received phone calls threatening to kill her. Morcos also lost her job.
“This was a disaster for me,” says Rawda. But I don't feel bitter, at least now I understand the importance of influencing the media and representing something different.
Instead of hiding from the media spotlight, Rawda decided to take advantage of the dire situation. She founded the “Voices” organization for lesbians
Objections within the community to its activity
One of the most prominent examples of the challenges facing Rawda and its institution was what it witnessed while organizing a party in Haifa to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the founding of the Aswat group, which was met with a wave of objections from the Islamic Movement in particular. In a statement he issued a few days ago, he said he would work to disrupt the holding of such a conference because the event does not elevate the status of the Arab community, but rather shames it.
The Islamic movement called on those in charge of this conference to cancel it immediately, and said that "the recognition that the freedom that we as Muslims and Christians sanctify cannot be a departure from the nature of things."
position on occupation
Rawda Morcos was elected as a member of the Central Committee of the Israeli Communist Party and has positions against normalization and the exploitation of gay rights issues as a cover for the Israeli occupation’s crimes against the Palestinians.
Achievements and Awards
Felipe de Souza, 2006 Felipe de Souza Award
Roda is the recipient of the 2006 Felipe de Souza Award from the International Commission on Gay and Lesbian Human Rights in the United States. The award recognizes the courage and influence of community leaders and leaders who have dedicated their lives to advancing the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and other people who may come under attack. their identity or persecuted because of their sexual orientation and identity, and Rawda is the first Arab woman to receive this award
- Years in active
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