Queers for Zion with Eve Barlow

In this powerful episode of Sapir Conversations, Rabbi David Wolpe hosts a discussion with writer Eve Barlow about her essay 'Queers for Zion,' which confronts the growing anti-Zionist sentiment within parts of the LGBTQ community. Barlow traces the ideological shift from LGBTQ rights as a fight for equality to a broader, often ideologically driven alignment with movements like Free Palestine, despite the fact that many of these movements are fundamentally hostile to LGBTQ identities. She uses the harrowing story of Emily Damari, a gay British-Israeli hostage held by Hamas for 471 days, to illustrate the real-world danger faced by LGBTQ people in hostile regimes—making the irony of LGBTQ activists supporting such regimes even more profound. Barlow argues that the LGBTQ community has fallen prey to a form of moral narcissism and ideological overreach, where the pursuit of global oppression solidarity has eclipsed the core mission of fighting for LGBTQ rights. She calls for a return to foundational values, advocating for a new 'table' where LGBTQ Jews and allies can gather safely, share stories of pride and survival, and redirect activism toward real, tangible liberation efforts—especially in places like Gaza and Iran where LGBTQ rights are systematically denied. The conversation also addresses the role of bad-faith influencers, the need for better education on intersectionality and history, and practical advice for queer individuals navigating identity, dating, and activism in hostile environments.