LGBTQ

Activists take part in the anti-pinkwashing bloc during the Tel Aviv Pride Parade, June 8, 2023. (Oren Ziv)

The queer Israeli youth taking a stand against pinkwashing

At Pride marches across the country, activists are drawing the ire of police and fellow protesters for decrying the hypocrisy of the government and military.

By Oren Ziv June 16, 2023

People hold a Palestinian flag during a pride event under restrictions following the spread of the coronavirus, in Tel Aviv, June 28, 2020. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

A Palestinian trans woman’s story peels away Israel’s pinkwashing veil

From oppressive institutions to social prejudices, MC's ordeal embodies the dark reality of LGBTQ Palestinians who thought they could find safety in Israel.

By Sharona Weiss June 8, 2023

Right-wing activists protest the annual Pride parade, Jerusalem, August 2, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The far right always has a next target

The threat to Israel's LGBTQ community underlines how a state designed to eject a particular group from its midst will always look for new targets.

By Natasha Roth-Rowland January 21, 2023

Latest

Elias Jahshan. (Courtesy)

‘Queerness is part of Palestinian culture. We’ve existed forever’

Elias Jahshan, editor of the anthology ‘This Arab is Queer,’ discusses sexuality in the Arab world, Israeli pinkwashing, and his dream of a liberated Jaffa.

By Eliyahu Freedman January 18, 2023

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (front row) pose for a group picture of the new government with Israeli Ministers at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, December 29, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

The inspiration behind Israel’s far-right, anti-LGBTQ coalition

From legalizing discrimination against queer people to promoting conversion therapy, Israel's new coalition is looking to the American far right for cues.

By Shiri Eisner January 1, 2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with Otzma Yehudit party head Itamar Ben Gvir during a Knesset session to vote on forming the government, December 29, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Land grabs. Homophobia. Radicalized police: What to expect from Israel’s far-right government

The new coalition is set to deepen colonization on both sides of the Green Line, while expanding its tools to oppress Palestinians, leftists, and LGBTQ people.

By Natasha Roth-Rowland December 29, 2022

A left-wing activist holds up a Palestinian flag at Tel Aviv Pride, June 28, 2020. (Oren Ziv/Activestills)

Left-wing activist assaulted over Palestinian flag at Tel Aviv Pride

A man waving a rainbow flag physically attacked a fellow attendee at the Pride event, leaving her with bruises and swelling on her face and body.

By Oren Ziv June 29, 2020

Israeli soldiers take position near a burning tyre during clashes with Palestinian protesters at a demonstration marking Land Day at Qalandiya checkpoint, March 30, 2012. (Uri Lenz/Flash90)

Israel, the occupation is at the core of who you are

If Jewish leaders and activists are going to speak up against Israel’s recent anti-democratic trends, they cannot remain silent on what has been corrupting its democracy for decades. By Nadav Bigelman It is not news to many Israelis that their government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, is pushing all those who do not align with his spirit of…

By +972 Magazine August 25, 2018

Members of the Israeli and international gay community participate the annual pride parade in Tel Aviv, June 7, 2013. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

Overcoming bigotry, Be’er Sheva to hold first pride march

A year after the Be’er Sheva march was cancelled following threats by extremists, the LGBTQ community in the city wins its greatest victory to date. By Daniel Beller A year after it was cancelled by the municipality, the southern city of Be’er Sheva will hold its first ever pride parade this coming Thursday. Last year’s cancellation came after…

By +972 Magazine June 19, 2017

A group of queer Jewish activists disrupts the Celebrate Israel parade in Manhattan, New York City, June 4, 2017. (Jewish Voice for Peace)

Queer Jews should think again before celebrating Israel

We were labeled homophobes and racists for disrupting a group of queer Jews at a pro-Israel parade this month. But as queer Jews ourselves, we could not stand aside while being used to distract from Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. By Stephanie Skora Just under two weeks ago, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Israel’s occupation, members of Jewish…

By +972 Magazine June 18, 2017

Over 100,000 thousand people participate in the annual Pride Parade in Tel Aviv, June 9, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

Pinkwashing: Is it really so black and white?

We must remain critical when the Israeli government co-opts the LGBTQ struggle to divert attention from the occupation. But let’s not minimize the urgency of the situation for many queer people in Israel and across the Middle East. By Frederick Hertz There’s a tendency towards extreme dualism when it comes to the LGBTQ community in Israel. Two recent essays…

By +972 Magazine June 9, 2017

Queer anti-occupation activists block the Tel Aviv Pride Parade with signs reading: 'There's no pride in occupation', Tel Aviv, June 9, 2017. (Yael Marom)

Anti-occupation LGBTQ activists block Tel Aviv pride parade

Activists hold up signs resembling the separation wall reading: ‘There’s no pride in occupation.’ Dozens of Israeli LGBTQ activists against the occupation blocked Tel Aviv’s annual pride parade on Friday, holding up signs that read “There’s no pride in occupation,” and for a few minutes preventing the march from proceeding through the city center. The…

By Yali (Yael) Marom June 9, 2017

Jewish protesters are arrested after disrupting the Celebrate Israel parade in Manhattan, New York City, June 4, 2017. (Jewish Voice for Peace)

Jewish activists arrested for protesting New York pro-Israel parade

New York’s annual, lavishly-funded Celebrate Israel parade was interrupted by scores of American Jewish activists, several of whom were arrested in the process. Seven Jewish protesters were arrested in New York on Sunday afternoon as over 100 activists disrupted the annual Celebrate Israel parade. The event, which sees thousands of participants march down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue accompanied…

By Natasha Roth-Rowland June 5, 2017