View source for Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism

{{Short description|U.S. political action group}}
{{multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=July 2015}}
{{Primary sources|date=July 2015}}
{{notability|Organizations|date=July 2015}}
{{cleanup|date=September 2011}}
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{{Redirect|QUIT|other uses|Quit (disambiguation){{!}}Quit}}
'''Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism''' '''(QUIT!)''' is a [[San Francisco Bay Area]]-based queer political action group that advocates for [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|boycott, divestment, and sanctions]] against the State of [[Israel]] while opposing the State’s pinkwashing and ethnic cleansing of [[Palestinians]].<ref name=website>{{cite web|title=QUIT! Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism|url=http://www.quitpalestine.org/|website=quitpalestine.org|access-date=14 October 2015}}</ref> The group was founded in early 2001 by a member of LAGAI-Queer Insurrection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queerrevolution.org |title=queerrevolution.org |publisher=queerrevolution.org |access-date=2013-12-02}}</ref>

==Goals==
[[Image:ES val banner.jpg|thumb|QUIT activists outside [[Macy's]] San Francisco store on Valentine's Day, 2004. Banner says, "Killer Products from Estée Slaughter", referring to [[Estée Lauder Companies]].]]

The group advocates for the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] movement, the [[right of return]] for Palestinians, and the withdrawal of the State of Israel from the [[Occupied Palestinian territories]]. It characterizes [[Zionism]] as a form of [[racism]].<ref name="adl">{{cite web|url=http://www.adl.org/Israel/israel_protest_calendar_groups.asp#27 |title=U.S. Anti-Israel Activity |publisher=Adl.org |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>

QUIT! opposes [[Pinkwashing (LGBTQ)|pinkwashing]], which it defines as the use of LGBTQ rights to promote the State of Israel’s [[Anti-Palestinianism|anti-Palestinian]] policies.<ref name=website/>

Critics have questioned the group's stance in relation to [[LGBTQ rights in the State of Palestine]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirchick |first=James |date=28 January 2009 |title=Queers for Palestine? |url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/2009/01/28/queers-palestine |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=www.advocate.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Activities==

===Protests/campaigns===
* February 2002—QUIT! participated in the National Student Conference of the [[Palestine Solidarity Movement]] on the [[University of California, Berkeley|Berkeley]] campus of the [[University of California]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/17818/edition_id/354/format/html/displaystory.html |title=This time, divestment is an anti-peace movement &#124; j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California |publisher=Jewishsf.com |date=2002-03-01 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>
* June 2002—QUIT! "initiated" a " 'No pride in occupation' anti-war contingent that marched in solidarity with the Palestinian people" in [[San Francisco]]'s [[LGBTQ|Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender]] [[Pride March]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.workers.org/ww/2002/pride0711.php |title=Workers World July 11, 2002: Pride in San Francisco |publisher=Workers.org |date=2002-07-11 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>
* August 2002—25 members of the group reportedly "took over" a [[Starbucks]] in Berkeley in protest of the firm's stores in [[Israel]] and CEO [[Howard Schultz]]'s support for Israel.<ref name="adl" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.workers.org/ww/2002/resist0905.php |title=Workers World Sept. 5, 2002: Resistance in Israel undercuts settler regime |publisher=Workers.org |date=2002-09-05 |access-date=2012-11-12 |archive-date=2012-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105064513/http://www.workers.org/ww/2002/resist0905.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=2233 |title=ZCommunications &#124; Queer 'Settlers' Land on Berkeley Starbucks by Quit &#124; ZNet Article |publisher=Zmag.org |date=2002-08-20 |access-date=2012-11-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095552/http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=2233 |archive-date=2007-09-29 }}</ref>
* June 2003—The screening of an Israeli film, [[Yossi & Jagger]], at San Francisco's [[Frameline|San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival]] is disrupted by QUIT! activists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/news_detail.asp?id=12302 |title=Latest News |publisher=Advocate.com |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=July 2024}} The protest "outraged" [[Yossi Amrani]], the Israeli Consul General and caused a minor local media flap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/20559/edition_id/420/format/html/displaystory.html |title=Anti-Israel protest at film fest irks local gay Jews, consulate &#124; j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California |publisher=Jewishsf.com |date=2003-06-20 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>
* June 2003—QUIT! begins its campaign against the cosmetic company [[Estée Lauder Companies|Estée Lauder]] outside of a [[Macy's]] department store in San Francisco. The company is targeted because of [[Ronald Lauder]]'s, the company's founder, support for Israel and his service as president of the [[Jewish National Fund]].<ref name="adl" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Greenspan |first=Judy |url=http://www.workers.org/2006/us/sf-lgbt-0706/ |title=It's time to revive militant legacy of LGBT movement |publisher=Workers.org |date=2006-07-03 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>
* In 2004, the [[Estee Lauder Companies]] boycott campaign titled "Estee Slaughter" was financed, in part, by a $1500 grant from [[RESIST (non-profit)|RESIST]].<ref>[http://www.resistinc.org/grantees/2004/grantees2004.html Resist Grants of 2004 Listed by Category] "Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism (San Francisco, CA) $1,500 for the "Estee Slaughter" campaign, which uses street theater to promote a boycott of companies that significantly aid the Israeli economy."</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]). Not independent of source|date=July 2024}}
* In December of 2023, QUIT! protested from the Castro District to San Francisco City Hall calling for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.<ref>{{cite web|last=Munce |first=Megan |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/free-palestine-rally-sf-18528116.php |title=Thousands march through S.F. streets to demand permanent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2023-12-02 |access-date=2024-03-10}}</ref>

===Founder arrested in West Bank and Israel===
In December, 2004, one of QUIT!'s founders, [[Kate Bender-Raphael]] was arrested by Israeli authorities while "filming a clash between Israeli soldiers and activists protesting the building of the [[separation barrier]] in the [[West Bank]] village of [[Bil'in]]."<ref name="jewishsf">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/24482/edition_id/481/format/html/displaystory.html |title=Shorts: Mideast &#124; j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California |publisher=Jewishsf.com |date=2004-12-17 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref><ref name="jewishsf_a">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/21223/edition_id/433/format/html/displaystory.html |title=Protesters rally for jailed Berkeley radical, condemn security fence &#124; j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California |publisher=Jewishsf.com |date=2004-01-09 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/21275/edition_id/434/format/html/displaystory.html |title=Berkeley radical released from jail, may be deported &#124; j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California |publisher=Jewishsf.com |date=2004-01-16 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref> Bender-Raphael had been arrested in Israel and deported in 2003 "also for filming the [[Israel Defense Forces]]' reaction to a demonstration against the barrier."<ref name="jewishsf" /> As a result of her arrest, QUIT! staged a protest outside the Israeli [[Consulate]] in San Francisco.<ref name="jewishsf_a" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Demian Bulwa |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/01/06/BAGTL448JG1.DTL&hw=Queers+Undermining+Israeli+Terrorism&sn=001&sc=1000 |title=SAN FRANCISCO / Activists to protest at Israeli Consulate |publisher=SFGate |date=2004-01-06 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref>

===Boycott World Pride Jerusalem===
In late 2004, in response to Interpride's decision that the Israeli group Jerusalem Open House would host the second [[World Pride]] parade in 2005, QUIT! launched a Boycott World Pride<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boycottworldpride.org |title=de beste bron van informatie over boycott world pride. Deze website is te koop! |publisher=boycottworldpride.org |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref> campaign.  The boycott picked up steam after the event was postponed until August 2006 because of the pullout of the Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip.  QUIT and many other individuals and organizations contended that it was inappropriate to hold an event titled "Love Without Borders" in a city bisected by a 30-foot concrete wall. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iglhrc.org |title=International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission |publisher=IGLHRC |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref> decided, in March 2006, not to participate in World Pride Jerusalem, stating, "IGLHRC recognizes that many LGBTI people in the region who wish to attend World Pride 2006, named 'Love without Borders,' will be unable to do so due to travel restrictions and conditions that limit mobility and participation."<ref>[https://archive.today/20070618082734/http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/section.php?id=5&detail=615 International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission - Human Rights For Everyone. Everywhere]</ref>

===San Francisco LGBT Film Festival===
In an open letter signed by more than 100 artists and writers, including [[Sophie Fiennes]], [[Elia Suleiman]], [[Ken Loach]], [[Haim Bresheeth]], [[Jenny Morgan]], [[John Berger]], [[Arundhati Roy]], [[Ahdaf Soueif]], [[Eduardo Galeano]], [[Brian Eno]], and [[Leon Rosselson]], Frameline was asked "to honor calls for an international boycott of Israeli political and cultural institutions, by discontinuing Israeli consulate sponsorship of the LGBT film festival and not cosponsoring events with the Israeli consulate."<ref>{{cite web |last=Bajko |first=Matthew S. |url=http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1838 |title=The Bay Area Reporter Online &#124; Political Notebook: Queer activists reel over Israel, Frameline ties |publisher=Ebar.com |access-date=2012-11-12 |archive-date=2007-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820041155/http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1838 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Portal|LGBTQ|United States|Israel|Palestine}}
{{Wikisourcepar|Palestinian civil society calls for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel}}
* {{Official website|http://www.quitpalestine.org }}

[[Category:2001 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment in the United States]]
[[Category:Anti-Zionist organizations]]
[[Category:Boycott organizers]]
[[Category:Community organizing]]
[[Category:Israel–United States relations]]
[[Category:LGBTQ culture in San Francisco]]
[[Category:LGBTQ organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]
[[Category:Organizations based in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2001]]
[[Category:Palestinian solidarity movement in the United States]]
[[Category:Protests in the United States]]
[[Category:Queer culture]]
[[Category:Palestine–United States relations]]