Proud of Israel? Pride in Israel!


Technological Innovation isn't the only reason to be proud of Israel
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June is Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Pride Month. parades are happening all over the world celebrating the advancement of civil rights for the LGBT population and demanding full equality. Israel is one of the most progressive countries on LGBT issues in the world, even while it sits in a neighborhood of some of the worst offenders

LGBT Rights in Israel
-Gays have full rights to serve in the military
-Sodomy laws were struck down in 1988
-Full civil rights for LGBT people established in 1992
-Partner benefits for all governmnetal employees, including the national airline, El Al
-Partner adoption rights
-In 2007 the State agreed to recognize same gender marriages preformed abroad, similar to its recognition of other civil marriages from other countries

GBT Pride in Israel

* Pride parades take place annually in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Eilat and Haifa. Attempts by Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious groups to stop the parades, mostly in Jerusalem have consistently been blocked by the Israeli Supreme Court.

* The first transgendered person to win the Eurovision contest was Israeli Dana International in 1998 with her song, "Diva". Eurovision is watched by hundreds of millions of people through Europe, Asia and Africa.

* Openly gay singer Ivri Lidder is amongst Israel's most popular entertainers
* Openly gay movie producer Eytan Fox has become one of Israel's most important film exporters to the world, with his movies "Yossi and Jagger", Walk on Water" and "The Bubble".

* Openly gay politicians have served in the Israeli Kenneset and on the city councils of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

For more information
The Agunah, Israel's main LGBT civil rights organization
www.aguda-ta.org.il/

Jerusalem Open House, the LGBT community Cenetr of Israel (also serving the Palestinian territories)
www.worldpride.net

Gay Middle East, covering Israel and the entire Arab world
www.gaymiddleeast.com

Go gay (Hebrew language portal)
www.gogay.co.il