Reem Itani

Reem Itani is a student studying political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an interest in Middle Eastern politics. Her research and advocacy focus on centering marginalized communities in the Middle East, like Palestinians, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. She has presented her research on LGBTQ+ individuals in the Middle East at her university’s Undergraduate Symposium and spoke at the Ayah Project’s (formerly Hidayah) 2025 national conference about her story as a queer Muslim. On her campus, she values political education and action, being the president of Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC), where she gave a workshop on pinkwashing in Israel, and the vice-president of Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT), a progressive advocacy organization. Upon receiving a campus fellowship, she is currently working to program the Ayah Project’s annual conference in LA, featuring queer Muslim speakers.