This Queer Arab Family
An Anthology by LGBTQ+ Arab Writers
Edited by Elias Jahshan
Published by Saqi Books
About the Book
In Arab culture, tradition often dictates an individual’s role in a family, with personal desires subsumed in favour of unity. So, what happens when Queer Arabs challenge and re-imagine these expectations?
This Queer Arab Family celebrates the beauty of chosen kin and the everyday acts of care and survival that bind Queer Arabs to each other. Here, ten LGBTQ+ writers from across the Arab world and diaspora redefine what family looks like. From raising children with mum and mum, to becoming an OnlyFans star and building a non-binary belly dancing robot, these writers illuminate, through their own lived experiences, how queer joy and community can be found in the most unexpected places.
Fierce, vibrant and unapologetic, This Queer Arab Family honours the spirit of those who, despite challenges, build community and family on their own terms.
Reviews
‘A stunner of a book … Building on the success of This Arab is Queer, Jahshan has gathered yet another extraordinary collection of essays with new depths and wonderful lyrical writing.’
Danny Ramadan
'A vital addition to the landscape of Arab queer and trans literature. May this beautiful anthology open the way for many more to come.'
Zeyn Joukhadar
'Jahshan once again convenes a chorus of voices that ricochet across distance and difference with tenderness and power. A celebration, a protest, a love letter, and a reminder that we are never alone. A vital, heart-filled collection.'
Saleem Haddad
'A breathtakingly beautiful book by one of today’s Queer trailblazers. This Queer Arab Family is a celebration of enlightenment, a torchbearer for total liberation and a vital act of defiance to the forces that attempt to tear our queer love apart.’
Dan Glass
'A rich, reverberating chorus of voices. This timely, powerful collection is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a gift at a time when we desperately need hope.’
Sahar Mustafah