Dean Spade, the Seattle-based producer of the film Pinkwashing Exposed: Seattle Fights Back, describes Pinkwashing as "A term used by activists to describe an explicit strategy taken up in recent years by the government of Israel to portray Israel as a leader in gay rights and a gay tourism destination as a way to deflect attention away from the extreme violence of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Through a campaign called "Brand Israel," Israel has tried to change its public image, promoting itself as a "modern democracy" - and projecting a "LGBT-friendly" image is just one part of this."
Today we'll hear excerpts from Spade's film, and a discussion afterwards with local Portland-based queer activists and Palestinians.
On the second half of the program, it's Queer Review, featuring a discussion with Tony Souza on the work of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA), History of Apartheid, Occupied Palestine, Toronto Pride, Mayor Ford and Pinkwashing.
- KBOO