Toronto Women's Bookstore
http://www.womensbookstore.com
416-922-8744

The Toronto Women's Bookstore is pleased to host an event with Palestinian activist and poet Rauda Morcos.

Rauda Morcos is coordinator of Aswat/Voices, a pioneer group of young Palestinian gay women who have organized themselves during this past year. As they have stated, “our mission is to challenge the status quo and to improve our lives - as woman, as Palestinians and as lesbians. And to hopefully secure equal rights for ourselves and for those who come after us.” They are legitimizing the expression of women’s sexuality and articulating a Palestinian feminism that encompasses gendered and national struggles against oppression.

Aswat coordinator, Rauda Morcos, will be in Toronto on Thursday, September 30th, 2004. There will be a reading of her poetry - in Arabic and English - at the Bookstore, followed by a fundraising reception. Proceeds go to Aswat.

Aswat is generating tremendous energy as they literally ‘make history’ as the first group of Palestinian lesbian, bisexual and intra-sexual women in the Middle East. They come from Israel and Palestine, meet regularly, facilitate a virtual chat room, produce political education materials for their communities - they are breaking silences in all of the communities they are a part of.

Poetry Reading: Rauda Morcos
Thursday, September 30, 8 pm
Toronto Women's Bookstore
73 Harbord Street
Free admission

followed by

Aswat Fundraiser
Cocktail Reception 9:30 pm @ 93 Harbord
$30 - $50 sliding scale
Advance tickets available at TWB
Charitable Receipts will be issued for all ticket purchases and additional donations.

The Reception will include a talk by Rauda Marcos about Aswat and ambient experimental electronic grooves by John Kameel Farah and Reena Katz. Appetizers served. Cash bar.

Co-sponsored by Salaam: Queer Muslim Community, Inside/Out Film Festival, Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape, Coalition for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel, Jewish Women's Committee to End the Occupation, Institute for Women's Studies and Gender Studies (U of T), Women's Centre at U of T, Canadian Arab Federation

For more information contact Anjula Gogia at 416-922-8744