Supporters of LGBTQ Syrians aim to revive Mawaleh, ‘a defiant glitterbomb of resistance’
Bringing back ‘Syria’s first, fiercest, and only queer magazine’ is fund drive’s goal.
Queer Syrians have survived war, persecution, and exile. Yet their voices remain almost entirely absent from recovery efforts and public dialogue, say supporters of LGBTQ rights in Syria.
They recall, “In 2012 we created Mawaleh, Syria’s first queer cultural magazine, to fight that silence. It gave hope, community, and visibility during some of the country’s darkest years.”
“Today this work is at risk. Our website is outdated, unsafe, and limits our reach. To continue protecting and amplifying queer voices, Mawaleh urgently needs a full relaunch: secure, multilingual, and globally accessible. ”
As of the publication date of this article their fund drive has brought in €2,679 toward their goal of €8,804.
Mahmoud Hassino, the Syrian journalist and LGBTQ activist who helped launch Mawaleh in 2012, issued this statement about the fund drive:
Loud, Proud, and Ready
Dear Friends,
Some people think silence is golden. We think it’s boring. For too long, the queer Syrian story has been told in whispers, or not at all. We say: enough of that.
Remember Mawaleh? We were Syria’s first, fiercest, and only queer magazine. We weren’t just a publication; we were a defiant glitterbomb of resistance, a sanctuary of stories, and unapologetic proof that we exist, we matter, and we are fabulous.
Well, the world hasn’t gotten any less chaotic, and our voices are needed more than ever. So, we’re doing what any queer icon would do: we’re staging a comeback. We’re rebuilding Mawaleh as a stunning digital home for queer Syrians and our allies everywhere.
And every great comeback needs a crew.
We’ve just launched our crowdfunding campaign on Betterplace.org to build the stage for our return: a gorgeous, secure, and multilingual new website. This isn’t just about funding a project; it’s about reclaiming our narrative, loud and clear.
Be part of the comeback. Fuel our relaunch.
Your support, big or small, isn’t just a donation—it’s a statement. It says you believe in queer joy, in bold stories, and in a future where we are seen and celebrated. Let’s build it together.
En: https://www.betterplace.
De: https://www.betterplace.
Check our Instagram! We will publish wonderful reels for the campaign and much more later!
Loud, Proud, and Ready,
Mahmoud Hassino
mawaleh.net/2012/10/01/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%82%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%81%d9%82%d9%88%d8%af%d8%a9/
