Meet Sami*, a queer Palestinian Bedouin from the south of Palestine (the Naqab). Sami is an incredible creative & artist, a fiercely loyal friend, a fanatical SZA stan, and one of the best people you will ever meet. Sami has persevered through significant hardships since he left home at 18 years old in the pursuit of living an authentic queer life. Sami has faced severe financial difficulties throughout his entire adult life as he has navigated leaving home at a young age and trying to survive as a queer Palestinian under the Israeli state.

We (Sami’s close beloved friends) are launching this GoFundMe to help Sami escape from debilitating debt that has followed him these past years and be able to afford basic living expenses while trying to build a life for himself.

Sami’s Story

Sami grew up in a household of seven brothers in a Bedouin city in the Naqab. His journey took a difficult turn when, at 18, his brother recklessly took out a substantial loan in his name. Despite never seeing a dime of the money, Sami was left with the crushing debt.

At the age of 18, Sami came out as queer and moved to Tel Aviv. At first, he was homeless and lived in a shelter for queer and trans youth in Tel Aviv. With no money and no familial support, he bounced around different shelters over a year and a half during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sami’s Life Today

Currently, Sami works at a bar and volunteers at a mutual aid collective in his free time that supports asylum-seekers and other vulnerable communities. However, the combination of debt, skyrocketing rent, the Israeli police state’s sweeping crackdown against Palestinians living inside the country, and the traumatic impact of the ongoing genocide in Gaza has made Sami’s life incredibly challenging. He faces the harsh realities of racism from Israelis daily. His struggle to pay rent has worsened. He is also trying to afford therapy to help him cope with the mental toll of past and ongoing experiences.

Sami lives paycheck to paycheck unsure every day if he will be able to afford his home or food the coming month. Sami deserves stability, safety, and the freedom to live his life to the fullest. It’s time for us to mobilize some mutual aid on Sami’s behalf, after he has given so much to everyone else around him.

Sami’s Passion

Despite being bullied as a child for his queerness and his artistic spirit, it is precisely those things that make Sami so special. He taught himself Photoshop from scratch and dreams of pursuing further arts education abroad next year. He is exceptionally talented at every new “hobby” he takes up. He would like to be able to learn how to DJ so he can support himself financially through creative pursuits. He is adored by his friends for both his style and his heart.

How You Can Help

Sami’s dream is to repay the debt his brother left under his name, continue his education, and build a life where he can thrive as an artist and individual.

We need you to help make Sami’s dream a reality. Any amount of support you can give will help:

Sami’s story is one of resilience. Despite the obstacles, he remains determined to build a better future for himself. There’s no one who deserves it more than him.

We are so grateful for your support.

***Please note that "Sami" is a pseudonym used to protect his safety. This fundraiser is set up to the American bank account of one of Sami’s closest friends, Gavi (Gabriel) Nelson, a queer American who has known Sami for the past four years. The funds will be transferred directly to Sami’s Israeli bank account immediately upon withdrawal from the GoFundMe. All information shared here is with the explicit consent of Sami.