Fun Fast Facts
- Since 1993 gay soldiers have been allowed to serve in the Israeli military.
- First gay pride march held in 1998 (2012-largest gay pride parade on the Asian continent).
- Only religious weddings are allowed, so no internal same-sex marriages, but recognise same-sex marriage from other countries.
- First same-sex divorce in 2012.
LGBT-friendly organisation: The Aguda
- Established in 1975.
- Full equality and acceptance for gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people in Israel.
- In 2013, organised a panel and invited party leaders in parliament to discuss action for the gay community.
W3JOY interviewed Ofir Danziga from The Aguda about MP Horowitz conducting unofficial same-sex marriages:
It was all very good. We [The Aguda] are really supportive and we hope it will lead to support from more groups.
We’re in an election time right now, no one wants to make too much noise rights now…I do believe in any other time there would have been much more noise about it.
All the parties are trying to get the gay voter to vote for them.
W3JOY interviewed Cory, member The Aleph (views represent his own)
That’s just the secular attitude of Tel Aviv. There’s no one judging anyone in those parts of Israel. But there’s quite a different story when you go into religious areas.
Just like you have a militant secular movement that’s so open…you also have people who are just as fierce in their beliefs that the ancient ways of Judaism are the right ways. Obviously, two men will never hold hands in these communities.
It doesn’t matter what the official stance is on homophobia; people … want to go against what’s being taught.
There would have been discrimination, but that is only because I was in a religious program. I heard about people who were on less religious programs, certainly there was no discrimination there.
If you were a part of a religious Hasidic community and you came out to your Rabbi…what happens now in some communities is you get an arranged marriage with someone of the opposite sex who’s also same-sex attracted.
Published on: Jan 31, 2013 @ 2:54
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:44 — 7.3MB)