About this Event
“In this visionary anthology, queer and trans Palestinians shift their gaze from the past to a future filled with the promise of freedom. Through these stories, a new Palestine comes into focus: a Palestine where liberation has no cost and love is in abundance. This collection has given me hope in a time when I thought all was lost.”
-Hannah Moushabeck, award-winning author of Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine
INARA: LIGHT OF UTOPIA is a groundbreaking anthology that unites the voices of queer and trans Palestinians from around the world, each contributing to a vibrant mosaic set in a liberated Falasteen. This collection melds poetry, short stories, essays, visual art, and photography into a singular vision of freedom, love, and belonging. Within its pages lies a reimagined world, where the streets of historic cities resonate with the joyous laughter of those long silenced. INARA is not just a book; it's a beacon of hope, a celebration of identity, and a defiant cry for freedom. It invites readers into a utopia crafted from dreams of liberation, showcasing the resilience and beauty of the Palestinian queer and trans community. Join us in exploring a Falasteen reborn, where every voice sings of a future unbound.
Acclaimed poet and activist Mx. Yaffa will be joining us again on the Busboys stage to share their most recent labor of love, the groundbreaking anthology INARA: LIGHT OF UTOPIA. Within its pages, Mx. Yaffa brings together a wide cast of queer and trans Palestinians from around the world filled with yearning and hope for a free Falasteen. Copies of this timely anthology will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Mx. Yaffa will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of INARA: LIGHT OF UTOPIA will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
Mx. Yaffa is an acclaimed disabled, autistic, trans, queer, Muslim, and indigenous Palestinian. Mx. Yaffa is the Executive Director of Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD), as well as the founder of several non-profits and community project. Yaffa has been actively running mutual aid and community care networks for over 15 years across continents, responding to large-scale disasters such as the Syrian Revolution, COVID-19, and ongoing genocides in Palestine, Sudan, Armenia, and elsewhere. Currently, Yaffa leads three mutual aid efforts: for queer and trans Palestinians in Palestine, for queer and trans people worldwide most impacted by genocide, and for queer and trans people living in the United States most affected by genocide, connecting individuals with over $120,000 in funding for immediate needs.
Mx. Yaffa serves as a death and birthing doula and peer support specialist, working with individuals who lack access to traditional care pathways.
Yaffa is also a visual artist and writer. BLOOD ORANGE, a poetry collection about genocide, displacement, and hope is now available. Their forthcoming queer and trans Palestinian Utopia anthology "Inara" is set to be released on April 8th, 2024. Mx. Yaffa is a storyteller and an equity and transformation consultant, having shared their story with over 150,000 audience members at speaking events globally since 2012.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Busboys and Poets 14th & V, 2021 14th St NW, Washington, United States
USD 0.00
