Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism (QUIT!) is a gay San Francisco Bay Area political action group supporting boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel; and opposing Pinkwashing of the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.[1] It was founded in early 2001 by a member of LAGAI-Queer Insurrection.[2]
Goals
QUIT activists outside Macy's San Francisco store on Valentine's Day, 2004. Banner says, "Killer Products from Estée Slaughter", referring to Estée Lauder Companies.
August 2002—25 members of the group reportedly "took over" a Starbucks in Berkeley in protest of the firm's stores in Israel and CEO Howard Schultz's support for Israel.[3][7][8]
June 2003—QUIT! begins its campaign against the cosmetic company Estée Lauder outside of a Macy's department store in San Francisco. The company is targeted because of Ronald Lauder's, the company's founder, support for Israel and his service as president of the Jewish National Fund.[3][11]
In December of 2023, QUIT! protested from the Castro District to San Francisco City Hall calling for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.[13]
Founder arrested in West Bank and Israel
In December, 2004, one of QUIT!'s founders, Kate Bender-Raphael was arrested by Israeli authorities while "filming a clash between Israeli soldiers and activists protesting the building of the separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bil'in."[14][15][16] Bender-Raphael had been arrested in Israel and deported in 2003 "also for filming the Israel Defense Forces' reaction to a demonstration against the barrier."[14] As a result of her arrest, QUIT! staged a protest outside the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco.[15][17]
Boycott World Pride Jerusalem
In late 2004, in response to Interpride's decision that the Israeli group Jerusalem Open House would host the second World Pride parade in 2005, QUIT! launched a Boycott World Pride[18] campaign. The boycott picked up steam after the event was postponed until August 2006 because of the pullout of the Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip. QUIT and many other individuals and organizations contended that it was inappropriate to hold an event titled "Love Without Borders" in a city bisected by a 30-foot concrete wall. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)[19] decided, in March 2006, not to participate in World Pride Jerusalem, stating, "IGLHRC recognizes that many LGBTI people in the region who wish to attend World Pride 2006, named 'Love without Borders,' will be unable to do so due to travel restrictions and conditions that limit mobility and participation."[20]
^Resist Grants of 2004 Listed by Category "Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism (San Francisco, CA) $1,500 for the "Estee Slaughter" campaign, which uses street theater to promote a boycott of companies that significantly aid the Israeli economy."
