Tarab NYC

Tarab NYC, a non-profit, fosters an inclusive and safe community of le***an, gay, bisexual, trans, q***r, and/or gender non-conforming Arab, Middle Eastern

Tarab NYC Values
Approved by Board in March of 2015

We recognize the full diversity of ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and gender within our communities, including but not limited to, the Arab, Middle Eastern, North African and LGBTQIA communities in New York City. We support collective and individual struggle against discrimination and other forms of oppression; therefore, we strive to create sa

fe spaces and empower our members by fostering an inclusive environment free of racism, heterosexism, misogyny, zionism, religionism, agism and classism. We work within MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) communities to reduce stigma towards q***r people and within q***r communities to reduce stigma toward people of MENA decent. We envision this work taking place through dialogue with leaders and broader community discussions. We are non-sectarian and secular; we respect all religious and non-religious backgrounds as equal. We do not believe in reinventing the wheel, but rather in creating opportunities to partner or work in solidarity with community groups and organizations that align with our values and further our mission. We speak only on behalf of Tarab NYC and we never claim to represent everyone in our community. We organize ourselves through a non-hierarchical leadership board that strives to represent the diversity of our community and is accountable for its actions. We believe that our rich cultural histories, past and present, are important to our lives. We are committed to supporting artists and creative projects within our community. We believe we should always make time to have fun and enjoy ourselves.

04/06/2026

We’re extending the Tarab NYC Culture Lab deadline to April 16. - Instagram Live info session on Monday at 7PM. Come with your questions.

We received a lot of requests from people with great ideas who need more time. Between Eid, Nowruz, other holidays, tax day and everything else horrible happening right now, we want to make this process fair and accessible for everyone.

Got an idea that would benefit q***r + trans SWANA folks in NYC?

Culture Lab - Funded Partnerships supports community members to co-create projects with Tarab NYC. This is a partnership, not a grant.

Apply by April 16.
Link in bio or tarabnyc.org/culturelab
https://tarabnyc.org/introducing-the-tarab-nyc-culture-lab-funded-partnerships/

***rSWANA

02/27/2026

Join us for our 10th Annual LGBTQ+ Community Iftar on March 12, 2026 from 6-9pm at The LGBT Center!
Space is limited and fills up quickly.

Special advance RSVP link in bio and on our website.

More details at https://gaycenter.org/communityiftar/ and https://tarabnyc.org/10th-annual-lgbtq-community-iftar/

In collaboration with

02/24/2026

Got an idea that would benefit q***r + trans SWANA folks in NYC? Tarab NYC Culture Lab - Funded Partnerships is open for proposals. It’s a chance for community members to co-create projects with Tarab NYC (this is a partnership, not a grant).

We’re looking for cultural, creative, educational, or social projects that build connection, care, and belonging for q***r and trans SWANA people in NYC (ex: book club, screening, performance, support circle, zine/storytelling, resource guide).

Funding:
$250-$2,500 per project (total pool: $5,000). Funds can cover space, materials, vendors, reimbursements, and stipends (max 60% to direct payments to individuals).

Who can apply:
NYC-area individuals or groups with a Tarab NYC connection or demonstrated q***r/trans SWANA community work.

Deadline: March 31
Apply and learn more via the link in bio.
https://tarabnyc.org/culturelab

***rSWANA ***rNYC

01/18/2026

Tarab NYC is recruiting new board members to help shape our next chapter of growth. Board members support programming, build sustainable leadership, and lead projects aligned with our mission to create an inclusive, safe space for Q***r SWANA communities.

Open Roles
• Volunteer Engagement Lead – Build and coordinate our volunteer network.
• Content Creator – Lead social media, storytelling, and program promotion.
• Community Partnerships Lead – Develop and activate community collaborations.
• General Board Member / Special Projects – Support operations while leading a self-directed mission-aligned project.

Roles are open to LGBTQ+ SWANA individuals; recent immigrants are especially encouraged to apply. Board members commit to bi-weekly virtual meetings, quarterly in-person retreats, and a focus area or project. A small stipend is provided after six months as part of our economic justice model.

How to Apply
Email Mirna Haidar at [email protected] (CC: [email protected]) with:
• A brief statement of interest (100–400 words), including your preferred role/project
• Your resume or relevant background

Deadline: February 15
Applications reviewed through Ramadan; responses by March 17. Selected members begin in April.

12/19/2025

Tarab NYC is partnering with Film Forum to present a special screening of The Voice of Hind Rajab, a documentary commemorating Hind Rajab who was shot at close range by the Israeli Occupation forces. This documentary was made with the collaboration and direct involvement of her family and the palestinian Red Crescent.

🎬 Showing this weekend: December 20 & 21

Use code TARABNYC for 15% off tickets. Link:

https://filmforum.org/film/the-voice-of-hind-rajab
Join us in bearing witness through film

09/09/2025

Summer is over and its back to school - join us for a night of karaoke fun! Get ready to sing your heart out at our Karaoke Night on Thursday, September 25th, 2025! Whether you’re a seasoned performer or a casual singer, this is your chance to belt out your favorite tunes in any language (as long as we can find the karaoke version online). Register on our website!

08/02/2025

Join us for a peer support group in which LGBTQ persons from the MENA region can process experiences in a safe space. Group discussion can foster support and develop ways of coping with struggles afflicting our community. This group will be facilitated by Logina Mostafa and will take place at the LGBT Center in Manhattan.

Introducing Logina Mostafa, our new Tarab NYC support group facilitator, Logina is a public health professional and founder of Q***ring Existentialism, a community education and connection initiative. With experience facilitating workshops focused on mental health and intersectional identities, we are excited to have Logina lead this month’s in-person support group.

The group is designed to discuss any subject or experience the group participants share. Every discussion in the group will require confidentiality to ensure the privacy of those attending the group and the material shared. To maintain confidentiality of all group members in attendance, RSVP on our website atleast 24 hours in advance. The session has a maximum of 12 participants to keep the group small. Participants must be Q***r and Middle Eastern / North African. In order to ensure minimal interruptions in the group, we also ask that everyone arrive no later than 6:45 PM. You must register in order to attend this session and be approved by our facilitator. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected] – updates will be shared via email to registrants.

When:
August 7th, 2025 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Location:
Virtual

07/10/2025

Save The Date - Aug 2! Join us for music, dancing, sun, and fun as q***r Arab, Middle Eastern and North African folk take over the northern part of RIIS beach on Saturday, August 2nd for Tarab On The Beach! (Rain Date, Sunday, August 3rd)

The 14th Annual Tarab On The Beach starts at noon and ends before sunset (around 7pm). Bring a cooler with your favorite drinks and food or enjoy some of our limited offerings for a donation. DJs and Performers to be announced soon!

Registration is not required, but it does help us to prepare + you get updates, and donations are always welcome! Sign Up For Updates

07/04/2025

Join us for our next Tarab NYC peer support group session, facilitated by Logina Mostafa!
This space is designed for LGBTQ individuals from the MENA region to process experiences, build community, and develop ways of coping with struggles affecting our community. Logina, a public health professional and founder of ***ring_existentialism brings a wealth of experience facilitating workshops focused on mental health and intersectional identities. We are thrilled to have her continue leading this important space at the LGBT Center in Manhattan.

Our peer support group is participant-driven: discussions are shaped by the topics and experiences that attendees bring to the session. To maintain a safe and confidential environment, we require that all participants RSVP on our website at least 24 hours in advance. The group is limited to 12 participants to ensure meaningful conversation.

Participants must identify as Q***r and Middle Eastern and/or North African. We ask everyone to arrive by 6:45 PM to minimize disruptions. Registration and facilitator approval are required to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. Updates will be shared with registrants via email.

When:
July 17tth 2025 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Location:
The LGBT Center – NYC
208 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
United States

06/22/2025

Tarab NYC on Pride 2025: Each year, Tarab NYC’s presence at events like NYC Pride, Queens Pride, Brooklyn Pride, the D**e March, and the Q***r Liberation March shines a light on our diverse and vibrant q***r and trans SWANA community. These moments of visibility are not only a celebration of who we are, but also an opportunity to publicly express our solidarity with global movements for justice and liberation, including the call for a free Palestine and an end to war and colonial violence in Yemen, Iran, Sudan, and beyond.

This year, we are not participating in any of the Pride marches. This is not due to a lack of desire or belief in their value. As a volunteer-run organization, we simply do not have the capacity this year to organize our presence. The time, labor, and care required to organize and represent our broader q***r SWANA community with intention and visibility demands significant effort. Pride participation takes over 100 hours of collective volunteer work across planning, outreach, logistics, and day-of coordination. Right now, our capacity is simply… limited.

If you are planning to march this year and have already registered with a Pride organizing body, and would like advice, support, or access to resources from previous years, please reach out, we are happy to help. Looking ahead, we’re calling on community members to help bring Tarab NYC back to Pride in 2026. If you’re passionate about q***r and trans SWANA visibility and want to support or lead our Pride efforts next year, we’d love to connect with you.

-Tarab NYC

P.S.: While we’re not marching this year, we hope you’ll join us at our Q***r MENA Happy Hour: Pride Edition on June 25 and Color Me Q***r on June 29.

06/07/2025

🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈Pride Month is here and we’re bringing the joy, music, and community vibes to Phoenix Bar for a night you won’t want to miss! Join us on Wednesday, June 25th from 6–10PM as we celebrate Q***r SWANA (Southwest Asian & North African) joy with music by , dancing, mingling, and a special round of “speed networking” to help you make new friends and connections.

Music. Dabke. Dance. Network. Drink Specials.

Suggested Donation: $10 in advance, $15 at the door - Link in Bio
Your donation helps support Tarab NYC’s programs—and gets you happy hour drink specials all night! (Otherwise, drink specials end at 7PM.)

Location: Phoenix Bar – 447 E 13th St, New York, NY 10009

Who’s Invited: You, your friends, and our wider community. Allies always welcome.

Why You Should Come: For the music, the vibes, the community, the connections—and because Pride spirit deserves to be celebrated in full SWANA flavor!

Flyer design by

***rarab ***riran ***rnyc

Address

Brooklyn, NY

Website

http://www.tarabnyc.org/

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