Who we are:

We are a group of  activists from Arab societies within a region that is often referred to as “the Middle East and North Africa.” We chose to name our region “MantiQitna” because it emphasizes the connectivity between us.

We gathered during previous meetings and decided to join forces and work together to host a platform for peer-to-peer activist learning and exchange. We came to acknowledge that our communities, our groups, and us as individuals share so much in common: a myriad of amazing experiences, lives, expertise, strengths, and challenges.

And we thought that:

It would be a great and meaningful opportunity to bring the richness of who we are together under one roof to learn, exchange, and debate, and based on that, we would like to invite you to join us in MantiQitna QamB.

What is MantiQitna QamB?

It is a gathering of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer (LGBTIQ) activist groups and individuals in MantiQitna. The aim of the QamB is to contribute to the building of a grassroots network, a dynamic platform, created by and for the support of LGBTIQ activists in Arab societies. It is a space where we can continue to grow and nurture each other as activists for social justice.

Our Vision:

In many of our communities it is very difficult to organize around issues of sexuality and gender identity and gender expression, and the models from other regions for this kind of organizing may not make sense in our own contexts, and thus we need to establish our own model that is culturally appropriate with our societies. We see MantiQitna QamB as a creative tool that will enable us to conceive and exchange innovative and “out of the box” ideas and strategies for our activist work that make sense to us in our own environments, to reconstruct and deconstruct our perception of the LGBTIQ community(ies) in MantiQitna.

Our Way:

We believe that the most important element of a movement for change is its smallest one: the individual. As a platform for the support and development of activists, the MantiQitna idea stems from the conviction that knowledge, skills, and information should be shared and disseminated through a bottom-up approach. This means that the content of the QamB is going to be based on what YOU, as an LGBTIQ activist, tell us about your own experiences, life, expertise, strengths, and challenges.

In MantiQitna, we believe that we are the experts on our own lives. Therefore, the QamB is going to take the form of a series of workshops that provide us all the opportunity to share our skills and knowledge amongst ourselves, based on our own needs and desires. The content of the QamB will be based on the information gathered from you through this registration form.

Who can take part of it?

Is exploring sexual and gender identity a process that you’re familiar with? Do you identify as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, or questioning individual in MantiQitna? Are you an activist in one of the LGBTIQ groups in MantiQitna? Are you involved in the LGBTIQ movement in any way? Do you want to be?

If your answer is yes to any or all the above questions, then you are encouraged to fill out this registration form for the MantiQitna QamB 2010.

In MantiQitna QamB, we are inviting you to be innovative, creative and energetic, so that we can build together an inspirational, inclusive and active grassroots QamB. We encourage you to be active participants in the creation of this QamB.

When & Where:

The time & place: in MantiQitna (exact time/place will be given upon registration)

Please send your answers and/or questions to: mantiqitna@mantiqitna.org

The deadline for registration is January 20th 2010