Research Period: 2012-2021
My research on the conditions that constitute a queer space as a safe space, and the factors that foster feelings of security, comfort, and belonging within such spaces, was initiated in the aftermath of the Barnoar shootings in 2019. During this period, I observed diverse responses by various LGBTQ+ organizations operating across different spaces in Israel. These divergent reactions were largely shaped by each organization's perception of its identity, resilience, and the spatial context within which it functioned.
Building on these reflections, and in ongoing collaboration with Dr. Yossi David and Dr. Lital Paskar, we examined the topic in various forms and contexts and presented the research on diverse platforms.
The politics of safe spaces refers to the practices LGBTQ+ activists use to shape their space as safe, by employing inclusion and exclusion mechanisms and setting boundaries as means to protect activist spaces as places secure from violence, both internal and external.
A significant part of the research focuses on Jerusalem, especially the Open House, analyzing various practices and the multiple meanings the term "safe space" holds for different community groups according to the different activities conducted there. Another part of the research addresses the role of the Open House in a city like Jerusalem, a conflicted and tension-filled city where LGBTQ+ activism often encounters manifestations of violence in public spaces.
Publications
הרטל, ג., דוד, י., ופסקר, ל. (2014). מרחב בטוח. מפתח: כתב-עת לקסיקלי למחשבה פוליטית, 8, 93-120