Rumors abound that extremists from QUIT (Queers Undermining Israeli Terror) are planning on disrupting tonight's showing of "The Invisible men" at the Frameline LGBT film festival. Premiered at the Amnesty International Film Festival (Movies that Matter) this film won the special jury award at the Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival.
QUIT, along with the Arab Resource Organizing Center has picketed the film festival before, because they dare show Israeli films, and take support from the Israeli consulate to facilitate this. After several years of having their picket lines ignored by theater go-ers, QUIT organizers discussed ratcheting the pressure up a notch- by entering the theater and disrupting the film. They've already expressed their disdain for Frameline by vandalizing posters promoting the festival.
Just what are they blindly protesting against?
From the Times of Israel
The Invisible Men’presents the untold narratives of Louie, 32 years old, a gay Palestinian who has been hiding in Tel Aviv for the past 8 years; Abdu, 24 years old, who was exposed as gay in Ramallah and then accused of espionage and tortured by Palestinian security forces; and Faris, 23 years old, who escaped to Tel Aviv from the West Bank after his family tried to kill him.”
Asked about allegations of "pinkwashing" Yariv Mozer narrator, writer and film producer of the "Invisible men" replied
"I just don’t see the connection between gay rights and the occupation. The facts are that Israel is undoubtedly much more tolerant towards gay rights and against homophobia incomparably to the situation in the Palestinian occupied territories, as in the whole Arab world. Unfortunately, the Palestinian conservative society does not respect human rights in general, and that includes for example women rights and of course gay rights.
Another undeniable fact is that Palestinian people are still under the occupation in all of its faults.
I don’t think that there is an official Israeli policy to highlight gay rights in order to undermine the occupation and its consequences.
Abdu said a smart thing during one of our last screenings: the day the Palestinian people will liberate themselves, they will be liberated from the Occupation.
It’s a radical thing for a Palestinian to say, but it’s the smartest conception of the conflict."
Queers Undermining Israeli Terror haven't quite made the intellectual leap that there's a big difference between being pro-Palestinian and being anti-Israel. Will QUIT firmly establish itself as a hate group in the Bay area by silencing the already marginilized voices of Palestinian queers? Or will they ultimately chose to open their hearts and minds and actually listen to the stories of those they claim to support? We will find out this evening.
Showing posts with label Frameline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frameline. Show all posts
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Are the attacks on Israeli Consulate support of the Frameline film Festival anti-Semitic?
All human institutions are inherently flawed. Nation states- as human institutions, are also inherently flawed. But according to the hate Israel cru-only the nation-state of Israel and Israel alone has flaws so deep, so all encompassing, so born of original sin, that these flaws invalidate her very existence of 64 years. To these haters, everything Israel has ever done, everything Israel will ever do, must be looked at through the prism of those flaws.
Natan Sharansky's famous 3 D's definition of anti-Semitism summarizes it best.
The first "D" is the test of demonization. When the Jewish state is being demonized; when Israel's actions are blown out of all sensible proportion; when comparisons are made between Israelis and Nazis and between Palestinian refugee camps and Auschwitz -this is anti- Semitism, not legitimate criticism of Israel.
The second "D" is the test of double standards. When criticism of Israel is applied selectively; when Israel is singled out by the United Nations for human rights abuses while the behavior of known and major abusers, such as China, Iran, Cuba, and Syria, is ignored; when Israel's Magen David Adom, alone among the world's ambulance services, is denied admission to the International Red Cross - this is anti-Semitism.
The third "D" is the test of delegitimization: when Israel's fundamental right to exist is denied - alone among all peoples in the world - this too is anti-Semitism.
Are the attacks on the Israelis consulate support of the Frameline Film festival in San Francisco anti-Semitic? They certainly represent a Double standard.
After all, promoting a countries cultural resources is an accepted and expected role of Consular services:
From the French consulate
"French American Cultural Exchange (FACE) was created to strengthen cultural ties between France and U.S. in all areas of innovation, whether artistic or educational. Hosted by the Cultural Services of the Embassy of France in New York, FACE supports several initiatives and events in collaboration with other French agencies of the United States. Missions and objectives Support the efforts of Franco-American, as well as exchanges in the fields of creation, art or education, Develop and bring together professionals and artists with French or American institutions, Combine the mutual efforts of France and the United States to create a dynamic and joint projects between our two countries"
From the Switzerland Consulate
"The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has an annual budget of CHF 1.5 million available for the implementation of cultural projects abroad. The budget is administered by the Cultural Foreign Policy Centre (CCC), which functions as a link between the cultural milieu in Switzerland and the Swiss representations around the world... The FDFA’s cultural activities are meant to showcase the values of Swiss foreign policy. In this way, they promote Switzerland’s image abroad and form the basis of an ongoing dialogue with other countries. For the FDFA, culture is a fundamental tool in advocating the interests of Switzerland."
From the Belgium consulate
"The Consulate plays an active role in promoting Belgian films, in close co-operation with Flanders Image (www.flandersimage.be) and Wallonie Bruxelles Images (www.wbimages.be)".
No one calls this into question. No one questions the right of the Swiss or the French or the Flemish to promote their culture. But when Israel's consulate supports its cultural institutions by promoting them in America and throughout the world, it’s a symptom of some nefarious plot. Yes, it’s a double standard representing nothing more than a new look for a very old hatred.
Natan Sharansky's famous 3 D's definition of anti-Semitism summarizes it best.
The first "D" is the test of demonization. When the Jewish state is being demonized; when Israel's actions are blown out of all sensible proportion; when comparisons are made between Israelis and Nazis and between Palestinian refugee camps and Auschwitz -this is anti- Semitism, not legitimate criticism of Israel.
The second "D" is the test of double standards. When criticism of Israel is applied selectively; when Israel is singled out by the United Nations for human rights abuses while the behavior of known and major abusers, such as China, Iran, Cuba, and Syria, is ignored; when Israel's Magen David Adom, alone among the world's ambulance services, is denied admission to the International Red Cross - this is anti-Semitism.
The third "D" is the test of delegitimization: when Israel's fundamental right to exist is denied - alone among all peoples in the world - this too is anti-Semitism.
Are the attacks on the Israelis consulate support of the Frameline Film festival in San Francisco anti-Semitic? They certainly represent a Double standard.
After all, promoting a countries cultural resources is an accepted and expected role of Consular services:
From the French consulate
"French American Cultural Exchange (FACE) was created to strengthen cultural ties between France and U.S. in all areas of innovation, whether artistic or educational. Hosted by the Cultural Services of the Embassy of France in New York, FACE supports several initiatives and events in collaboration with other French agencies of the United States. Missions and objectives Support the efforts of Franco-American, as well as exchanges in the fields of creation, art or education, Develop and bring together professionals and artists with French or American institutions, Combine the mutual efforts of France and the United States to create a dynamic and joint projects between our two countries"
From the Switzerland Consulate
"The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has an annual budget of CHF 1.5 million available for the implementation of cultural projects abroad. The budget is administered by the Cultural Foreign Policy Centre (CCC), which functions as a link between the cultural milieu in Switzerland and the Swiss representations around the world... The FDFA’s cultural activities are meant to showcase the values of Swiss foreign policy. In this way, they promote Switzerland’s image abroad and form the basis of an ongoing dialogue with other countries. For the FDFA, culture is a fundamental tool in advocating the interests of Switzerland."
From the Belgium consulate
"The Consulate plays an active role in promoting Belgian films, in close co-operation with Flanders Image (www.flandersimage.be) and Wallonie Bruxelles Images (www.wbimages.be)".
No one calls this into question. No one questions the right of the Swiss or the French or the Flemish to promote their culture. But when Israel's consulate supports its cultural institutions by promoting them in America and throughout the world, it’s a symptom of some nefarious plot. Yes, it’s a double standard representing nothing more than a new look for a very old hatred.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
QUIT: The new face of Intolerance
Imagine if the Westboro Baptist Church vandalized an ad for an LGBT film festival? Imagine if the if tea partiers disrupted a LGBT movie? We'd all be appalled and angry at this hateful and intolerant act.
Now imagine if QUIT did.
Its not going to be too hard. Here's a peek at their handiwork from BART:
QUIT- Queers for Undermining Israeli terror is not stopping at simply vandalism- they're plotting to interrupt Israeli films at the Frameline film festival in San Francisco.
How is their hatred and their intolerance any different from that of the Westboro baptist church? How is their hatred any different from the forces that left Matthew Shepard tied to a fence post in Laramie? Kate. Jack. Zac. What gives you the right to decide whose voice get heard? What gives you the right to silence the voices of those who disagree with you?
QUIT is planning on interrupting a Frameline showing of the Invisible Men, and silencing the story of a young gay Palestinian man. Why? Simply because the man you gave him a voice was an Israeli- director Yariv Mozer
From the Frameline website:
"In a tumultuous region fraught with religious, cultural and political tribulations, simply being oneself is a luxury that gay Palestinians cannot afford. Threatened with violence and death by the their families, outed gay men such as 32-year-old Louie have fled Palestine for Tel Aviv. But while the Israeli urban center may arguably be the most LGBT friendly city in the Middle East, it is still a space where gay Palestinians have a very tough time living legally and getting by.
His face scarred by his father’s blade, pensive Louie has been hiding in Tel Aviv for almost ten years, eluding police who knock on his door, and living a life with no passport, no bank account, and a cloud of fear following him.Though asylum in a third country is his only legal option, Louie is reluctant to move: the Middle East is, quite simply, his home. While other refugees such as 24-year-old Abdu, who was tortured, has no such qualms about moving to Europe, Louie is torn: he can be in Europe and be free to love, or he can be in the only land he has ever known. He can never have both.
Examining the multiple layers of identity that add up to make a person, award-winning director Yariv Moser’s intimate film sheds light on a world where one cannot be gay in Palestine, or a Palestinian in Israel. In this world, they truly are The Invisible Men."
QUIT's vendetta against the dastardly Israelis who dare accept people regardless of their sexual identity isn't stopping here.
Social media is supposed to be organic and spontaneous- yet QUIT and the hate Israel team continue to manipulate it for their own narrow aims. Local haters have been called to twitter bomb the local LGBT film festival with anti-Israel messages, and to inundate Frameline's management with emails.
What are people of conscience going to do about this? Nothing. We're going to let them hate. We're going to let their frothing at the mouth intolerance be exposed for the world to see. We know sunlight is the best disinfectant.
We also know this: Out of Zion comes pride
Now imagine if QUIT did.
Its not going to be too hard. Here's a peek at their handiwork from BART:
QUIT- Queers for Undermining Israeli terror is not stopping at simply vandalism- they're plotting to interrupt Israeli films at the Frameline film festival in San Francisco.
How is their hatred and their intolerance any different from that of the Westboro baptist church? How is their hatred any different from the forces that left Matthew Shepard tied to a fence post in Laramie? Kate. Jack. Zac. What gives you the right to decide whose voice get heard? What gives you the right to silence the voices of those who disagree with you?
QUIT is planning on interrupting a Frameline showing of the Invisible Men, and silencing the story of a young gay Palestinian man. Why? Simply because the man you gave him a voice was an Israeli- director Yariv Mozer
From the Frameline website:
"In a tumultuous region fraught with religious, cultural and political tribulations, simply being oneself is a luxury that gay Palestinians cannot afford. Threatened with violence and death by the their families, outed gay men such as 32-year-old Louie have fled Palestine for Tel Aviv. But while the Israeli urban center may arguably be the most LGBT friendly city in the Middle East, it is still a space where gay Palestinians have a very tough time living legally and getting by.
His face scarred by his father’s blade, pensive Louie has been hiding in Tel Aviv for almost ten years, eluding police who knock on his door, and living a life with no passport, no bank account, and a cloud of fear following him.Though asylum in a third country is his only legal option, Louie is reluctant to move: the Middle East is, quite simply, his home. While other refugees such as 24-year-old Abdu, who was tortured, has no such qualms about moving to Europe, Louie is torn: he can be in Europe and be free to love, or he can be in the only land he has ever known. He can never have both.
Examining the multiple layers of identity that add up to make a person, award-winning director Yariv Moser’s intimate film sheds light on a world where one cannot be gay in Palestine, or a Palestinian in Israel. In this world, they truly are The Invisible Men."
QUIT's vendetta against the dastardly Israelis who dare accept people regardless of their sexual identity isn't stopping here.
Social media is supposed to be organic and spontaneous- yet QUIT and the hate Israel team continue to manipulate it for their own narrow aims. Local haters have been called to twitter bomb the local LGBT film festival with anti-Israel messages, and to inundate Frameline's management with emails.
What are people of conscience going to do about this? Nothing. We're going to let them hate. We're going to let their frothing at the mouth intolerance be exposed for the world to see. We know sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Frameline Film festival and the Israeli consulate.
Earlier I wrote a bit about the relationship between the Israeli consulate and the Frameline film festival. There is nothing unusual or nefarious about a cultural attache promoting its nation's culture. (I can't help but notice that there arent 24 page memos regarding Switzerland's participation in Frameline. Imagine that.) And a film festival that employs open and active anti-Israel activists can hardly be considered "biased" towards Israel.
But there are other issues. Three blogs reported on this, with varying degrees of inaccuracies. Interestingly enough, they aren't accepting comments that correct what they've written.
From Velvet Park Media:
"The leaked emails show conversations between Frameline and Jewish Federation staff about trying to get pro-boycott ads taken down from bus shelters."
From PrettyQueer
"Frameline’s efforts included encouraging a vigorous public relations campaign and Mr. Price’s personal attempts to censor MUNI advertisements purchased by QUIT to raise public awareness about the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and Frameline’s complicity."
And yes, the usual team of haters at "Mondofront" also wrote about this (No- I don't link to hate sites.)
These blogs miss a crucial point. Was this a deliberate ommission? We'll never know, because my comments haven't appeared on the websites. These were not paid ads. Bus shelters were vandalized. Paid ads were removed from the bus shelter and "plop art"- propaganda was placed in.
It was vandalism, pure and simple. There was no "censorship".
Switzerland is also a sponsor of the Frameline film festival. From the website of the Swiss Consulate:
"The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has an annual budget of CHF 1.5 million available for the implementation of cultural projects abroad. The budget is administered by the Cultural Foreign Policy Centre (CCC), which functions as a link between the cultural milieu in Switzerland and the Swiss representations around the world."
Switzerlands' commitment to using its Consular services to spread its culture is never once called into question. Once again, Israel is held to different standard than the other nations of the world.
Boycotting Jews. Boycotting the state of the Jewish people. Its just a new look veiling an ancient hate.
But there are other issues. Three blogs reported on this, with varying degrees of inaccuracies. Interestingly enough, they aren't accepting comments that correct what they've written.
From Velvet Park Media:
"The leaked emails show conversations between Frameline and Jewish Federation staff about trying to get pro-boycott ads taken down from bus shelters."
From PrettyQueer
"Frameline’s efforts included encouraging a vigorous public relations campaign and Mr. Price’s personal attempts to censor MUNI advertisements purchased by QUIT to raise public awareness about the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and Frameline’s complicity."
And yes, the usual team of haters at "Mondofront" also wrote about this (No- I don't link to hate sites.)
These blogs miss a crucial point. Was this a deliberate ommission? We'll never know, because my comments haven't appeared on the websites. These were not paid ads. Bus shelters were vandalized. Paid ads were removed from the bus shelter and "plop art"- propaganda was placed in.
It was vandalism, pure and simple. There was no "censorship".
Switzerland is also a sponsor of the Frameline film festival. From the website of the Swiss Consulate:
"The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has an annual budget of CHF 1.5 million available for the implementation of cultural projects abroad. The budget is administered by the Cultural Foreign Policy Centre (CCC), which functions as a link between the cultural milieu in Switzerland and the Swiss representations around the world."
Switzerlands' commitment to using its Consular services to spread its culture is never once called into question. Once again, Israel is held to different standard than the other nations of the world.
Boycotting Jews. Boycotting the state of the Jewish people. Its just a new look veiling an ancient hate.
Frameline LGBT fim festival: Pride in Israel
There’s good reason for the LGBT community to feel pride in Israel:
LGBT Rights in Israel:
* Gays have had full civil rights since 1992
* Gays have full rights to serve in the military
* Gays have partner adoption rights
* Gays have partner benefits for governmental employees
* Same gender marriages preformed abroad are recognized.
LGBT Pride in Israel
* The first transgender person to win the Eurovison contest was Israeli Dana International with her song "Diva".
* Openly gay singer Ivri Lidder is one of Israel's most popular entertainers.
* Openly gay movie producer Eytan Fox has created such popular movies Yossi and Jagger, Walk on Water and The Bubble
* Openly gay politicians have served in the Kenneset and on many local councils.
* Tel Aviv was voted Best Gay city in 2011
From the Huffington post
"Israel's enemies recognized how favorable this record was for Israel, and that it threatened their efforts to demonize the Jewish state, so they shrewdly maneuvered to use it against her, linking promotion of Israel's LGBT record to the conflict in the West Bank and Gaza -- even though there is no connection. The idea that the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs' campaign is part of a diabolical scheme to cover up abuses of the "occupation" is completely the invention of anti-Israel queer activists; it is their great lie.
Beginning in Toronto in 2008, and later in San Francisco and New York, LGBT anti-Israel groups formed and sought to make being anti-Israel a queer value..."
How could anti-Israel activists rationalize their , well irrational hatred of Israel, one of the most progressive nations in the world when it comes to LGBT rights?
Enter "pinkwashing"
From Divest this
"The “Pinkwashing” accusation claims that any mention of the yawning chasm between Israel’s positive record on gay rights and the appalling condition of gays elsewhere in the Middle East is not really about concern over gay individuals, but is actually part of a nefarious propaganda plot by Israel supporters who just want to score points and don’t really give a fig about actual gays people or genuine gay issues.
Ignored in this faux controversy over a manufactured term is that regardless of whether or not the gay issue might be manipulated cynically by some of Israel’s defenders (a dubious proposition, at least when applied universally), there is no question regarding the truth of Israel’s superior record on this issue of importance to progressively minded audiences."
Here's where Frameline comes in .
Frameline is our local LGBT film festival- a respected and treasured institution in San Francisco. The list of sponsors reflects the diversity of the Bay area- from corporate sponsors like ATT and HBO- to local institutions such as the Rainbow grocery. The Israeli consulate and the nation of Switzerland are also sponsors. The current controversary stems from 2010 when the Israeli consulate gave money to Frameline to fly in famed Israeli filmmaker and social activist Yair Qedar. Qedar, whose film was being screened as part of the festival is also a founding editor of Pink Time, Israel's first Gay, lesbian and transgender newspaper
Several articles in a variety of fringe blogs have implied that there is something nefarious about this relationship.
From Velvet park media
"Throughout the years of protests, the festival seemed to be taking a stance of official neutrality. In a June 2010 article in the San Francisco Chronicle, K.C. Price, Executive Director of Frameline, is quoted as saying, "We understand this is a very sensitive subject for both sides. As an arts and cultural organization, we try to stay nonpartisan." In an article from the Bay Area Reporter in June 2011, Price continues: "Frameline is an arts and culture organization, and we don't take political points of view."
From PrettyQueer:
"A leaked internal report regarding the protests targetting Frameline has exposed clandestine arrangements between the film festival management and Israeli government officials. The report includes a series of emails that show Executive Director Kenneth C. Price colluding with Israeli consul general Akiva Tor to counter protests by anti-occupation activists targeting the 35-year old film festival."
Its hard to imagine whats "clandestine" about a relationship that proudly appears on all programming material, as well as on the Frameline Webpage.
Yet none of these articles mention a rather important fact- the Community Engagement & Communications Coordinator of Frameline for several years was Harris Kornstein - a notorious local anti-Israel activist.
Harris has organized boycotts of local stores that carry Israeli products. He protested an appearance of the Israeli Philharmonic at Davies hall. His organization (the IJAN) sponsored anti-semitic Indian activist Feroze Mithaborwala in a panel discussion in San Francisco. In an act of unbelievable arrogance and intolerance Harris Kornstein participated in the disruption of classes held at the San Francisco Jewish Community center. Harris was arrested for his role in this egregious act.
Its hard to re-construct Harris's relationship with this issue. Did he infiltrate Frameline simply to push his own peculiar brand of bigotry? What role did he play in leaking private information regarding the festival? It also begs the question- If Frameline's Executive Director Kenneth C. Price was less than neutral on this issue- would he have even employed such a vocal anti-Israel bigot as Harris Kornstein?
LGBT Rights in Israel:
* Gays have had full civil rights since 1992
* Gays have full rights to serve in the military
* Gays have partner adoption rights
* Gays have partner benefits for governmental employees
* Same gender marriages preformed abroad are recognized.
LGBT Pride in Israel
* The first transgender person to win the Eurovison contest was Israeli Dana International with her song "Diva".
* Openly gay singer Ivri Lidder is one of Israel's most popular entertainers.
* Openly gay movie producer Eytan Fox has created such popular movies Yossi and Jagger, Walk on Water and The Bubble
* Openly gay politicians have served in the Kenneset and on many local councils.
* Tel Aviv was voted Best Gay city in 2011
From the Huffington post
"Israel's enemies recognized how favorable this record was for Israel, and that it threatened their efforts to demonize the Jewish state, so they shrewdly maneuvered to use it against her, linking promotion of Israel's LGBT record to the conflict in the West Bank and Gaza -- even though there is no connection. The idea that the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs' campaign is part of a diabolical scheme to cover up abuses of the "occupation" is completely the invention of anti-Israel queer activists; it is their great lie.
Beginning in Toronto in 2008, and later in San Francisco and New York, LGBT anti-Israel groups formed and sought to make being anti-Israel a queer value..."
How could anti-Israel activists rationalize their , well irrational hatred of Israel, one of the most progressive nations in the world when it comes to LGBT rights?
Enter "pinkwashing"
From Divest this
"The “Pinkwashing” accusation claims that any mention of the yawning chasm between Israel’s positive record on gay rights and the appalling condition of gays elsewhere in the Middle East is not really about concern over gay individuals, but is actually part of a nefarious propaganda plot by Israel supporters who just want to score points and don’t really give a fig about actual gays people or genuine gay issues.
Ignored in this faux controversy over a manufactured term is that regardless of whether or not the gay issue might be manipulated cynically by some of Israel’s defenders (a dubious proposition, at least when applied universally), there is no question regarding the truth of Israel’s superior record on this issue of importance to progressively minded audiences."
Here's where Frameline comes in .
Frameline is our local LGBT film festival- a respected and treasured institution in San Francisco. The list of sponsors reflects the diversity of the Bay area- from corporate sponsors like ATT and HBO- to local institutions such as the Rainbow grocery. The Israeli consulate and the nation of Switzerland are also sponsors. The current controversary stems from 2010 when the Israeli consulate gave money to Frameline to fly in famed Israeli filmmaker and social activist Yair Qedar. Qedar, whose film was being screened as part of the festival is also a founding editor of Pink Time, Israel's first Gay, lesbian and transgender newspaper
Several articles in a variety of fringe blogs have implied that there is something nefarious about this relationship.
From Velvet park media
"Throughout the years of protests, the festival seemed to be taking a stance of official neutrality. In a June 2010 article in the San Francisco Chronicle, K.C. Price, Executive Director of Frameline, is quoted as saying, "We understand this is a very sensitive subject for both sides. As an arts and cultural organization, we try to stay nonpartisan." In an article from the Bay Area Reporter in June 2011, Price continues: "Frameline is an arts and culture organization, and we don't take political points of view."
From PrettyQueer:
"A leaked internal report regarding the protests targetting Frameline has exposed clandestine arrangements between the film festival management and Israeli government officials. The report includes a series of emails that show Executive Director Kenneth C. Price colluding with Israeli consul general Akiva Tor to counter protests by anti-occupation activists targeting the 35-year old film festival."
Its hard to imagine whats "clandestine" about a relationship that proudly appears on all programming material, as well as on the Frameline Webpage.
Yet none of these articles mention a rather important fact- the Community Engagement & Communications Coordinator of Frameline for several years was Harris Kornstein - a notorious local anti-Israel activist.
Harris has organized boycotts of local stores that carry Israeli products. He protested an appearance of the Israeli Philharmonic at Davies hall. His organization (the IJAN) sponsored anti-semitic Indian activist Feroze Mithaborwala in a panel discussion in San Francisco. In an act of unbelievable arrogance and intolerance Harris Kornstein participated in the disruption of classes held at the San Francisco Jewish Community center. Harris was arrested for his role in this egregious act.
Its hard to re-construct Harris's relationship with this issue. Did he infiltrate Frameline simply to push his own peculiar brand of bigotry? What role did he play in leaking private information regarding the festival? It also begs the question- If Frameline's Executive Director Kenneth C. Price was less than neutral on this issue- would he have even employed such a vocal anti-Israel bigot as Harris Kornstein?
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Arab Resource Organizing Center Organizes Picket of Frameline LGBT film festival
An intitiative organized by the Arab Resource Organizing Center (AROC), is using the cover of real and imagined LGBT groups to picket San Francisco's LGBT film festival for daring to show an Israel film, claiming "The Consulate and its supporters have threatened to brand the festival as "anti-Jewish" if they decline their money."
Where? When? If this were true, they'd be able to provide evidence, but no, this statement was completely fabricated.
The "Queen has no Crown" , a film by Tomer Heymann explores the life of a Jewish family in Israel, and their personal struggle with identity, and belonging. The family drama is framed within the larger focus of societal drama - the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its secular and religious citizens, and the overall struggle for human rights. This acclaimed and sensitive film is only controversial because the Israeli consulate has given Frameline a grant to bring director Tomer Heymann to the Bay area to discuss his film.
AROC (Have they ever donated money to Frameline? Have they ever sponsored an Arab film maker to speak at the festival?) have sent out multiple announcements urging the community the pressure Frameline . Their latest announcement promotes a picket of opening night:
SF Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans Film Festival PINKWASHES War Crimes
Apartheid -- Occupation -- Invasion -- Murder -- Racism -- Ethnic Cleansing
The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival has accepted sponsorship and money from the Israeli consulate for the second year in a row. Every Palestinian queer organization in the world, along with a number of local and international queer groups, have demanded that the festival presenter, Frameline, stand up for human rights and international law by refusing to partner with the Israeli government. But by accepting it, and ignoring the voices and the lives of Palestinian queers, Frameline has shown itself to be anti-queer.
Join the Protest
Friday, June 17, 5:30-7:00 pm
Castro Theater, San Francisco
AROC's campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel considers any reference to Israel's excellent record in regard to gay and lesbian rights as 'pinkwashing'.
Please join StandWithUs/San Francisco Voice for Israel, GLAZE (Gays and Lesbians Advocating for the Zionist Entity) and other LGBT community organizations in countering the AROC protest at Frameline. If "all queers count", AROC- stop trying to silence OUR voices.
UPDATE
Photos from Frameline Protest, June 17. Thanks to R for sending them our way!
Where? When? If this were true, they'd be able to provide evidence, but no, this statement was completely fabricated.
The "Queen has no Crown" , a film by Tomer Heymann explores the life of a Jewish family in Israel, and their personal struggle with identity, and belonging. The family drama is framed within the larger focus of societal drama - the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its secular and religious citizens, and the overall struggle for human rights. This acclaimed and sensitive film is only controversial because the Israeli consulate has given Frameline a grant to bring director Tomer Heymann to the Bay area to discuss his film.
AROC (Have they ever donated money to Frameline? Have they ever sponsored an Arab film maker to speak at the festival?) have sent out multiple announcements urging the community the pressure Frameline . Their latest announcement promotes a picket of opening night:
SF Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans Film Festival PINKWASHES War Crimes
Apartheid -- Occupation -- Invasion -- Murder -- Racism -- Ethnic Cleansing
The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival has accepted sponsorship and money from the Israeli consulate for the second year in a row. Every Palestinian queer organization in the world, along with a number of local and international queer groups, have demanded that the festival presenter, Frameline, stand up for human rights and international law by refusing to partner with the Israeli government. But by accepting it, and ignoring the voices and the lives of Palestinian queers, Frameline has shown itself to be anti-queer.
Join the Protest
Friday, June 17, 5:30-7:00 pm
Castro Theater, San Francisco
AROC's campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel considers any reference to Israel's excellent record in regard to gay and lesbian rights as 'pinkwashing'.
Please join StandWithUs/San Francisco Voice for Israel, GLAZE (Gays and Lesbians Advocating for the Zionist Entity) and other LGBT community organizations in countering the AROC protest at Frameline. If "all queers count", AROC- stop trying to silence OUR voices.
UPDATE
Photos from Frameline Protest, June 17. Thanks to R for sending them our way!
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