Op-ed: Why LGBT People Around the World Need Israel

[King_David]

Israel acts as an example of a pro-LGBT society in a part of the world where sexual and gender minorities are often persecuted.

The debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict provokes much passion and disagreement. Most individuals seem to agree, however, that ultimately, a two-state solution founded on common ground and peace is the right decision, and that we, the United States, should be doing everything in our power to encourage that result. I wholeheartedly agree and believe that both Israel and Palestine should take accountability for their actions and make the responsible choice to resolve this situation as soon as possible.

Having said that, there’s a whole other side to this debate. Regardless of what happened in 1948 and whether or not the Palestinians have any validity in their argument about state sovereignty, etc., the fact is that Israel is absolutely critical for our nation and for the security and stability of the Middle East. We cannot afford for Israel to be anything but strong and secure, and this is particularly true for the LGBT community here in America and around the world.

I always am surprised and frustrated when this part of the equation doesn’t get the attention it deserves. A lot of people who complain about Israel’s actions toward Palestine are self-proclaimed “liberals" who are supposedly standing up in the name of human rights and freedom. They seem to have forgotten that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has stood up for human rights, particularly those of women and gays, time and time again.


http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/07/09/op-ed-why-lgbt-people-around-world-need-israel

[King_David]

1. Op-ed: Israel’s Record on LGBT Should Be Celebrated, Not Vilified

Pride month in Israel was welcomed with many celebrations, including Tel Aviv’s pride parade on June 13 which featured 150,000 celebrants, beach parties, dance performances, lectures, rainbow flags and banners, and was embraced by the Israeli military as well as government officials. At the same time, claims of Israeli “pinkwashing,” which essentially conflates LGBT rights with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, are obsessively promoted by a small group of anti-Israel activists. An example of this can be found in Keegan O’Brien’s article of June 7, 2014, “There’s No Pride in Apartheid- Stop Pink-Washing Israel’s Crimes,” which uses the banner of advocacy for the legitimate rights of the LGBT community to vilify Israel.


http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2014/06/20/op-ed-israels-record-lgbt-celebrated-vilified/

[leftynyc]

11. Those accusing Israel of

pinkwashing are merely trying to deflect from the fact that gays are much better off in Israel than in any Muslim country. They want to keep the focus on Israel and only on Israel completely ignoring LGBT and other minority rights (or complete lack of) in the Muslim world.

[Scootaloo]

2. This line right here is the very essence of pinkwashing

A lot of people who complain about Israel’s actions toward Palestine are self-proclaimed “liberals" who are supposedly standing up in the name of human rights and freedom. They seem to have forgotten that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has stood up for human rights, particularly those of women and gays, time and time again.

no one's forgotten. it's just completely irrelevant to anything, for three reasons.

One, it's expected. Praising a nation for civil rights is a lot like praising a child for not skipping school, or praising a politician for not embezzling. of course, Israel's defenders keep demanding we praise it for it's "restraint" in not just eradicating whole swaths of human life, so this demand to praise a nation for managing the bare minimum isn't new.

Two, it's actually well behind most nations these liberals live in. Israel looks good for gays, if you're comparing it to Qatar, but is a medieval shithole if you compare it to the Netherlands, or even a growing number of US states. Of course, since Israel's defenders demand that Israel only ever be held against the standards set by ISIS and the Taliban, this is hardly surprising.

And three, rights for gays and women does not make it okay to brutalize and oppress Palestinians - including Palestinian women and gay people, who are just as victimized as straight male Palestinians (whom articles like this cast as "the bad guys" by default.) of course since almost all defenses of Israel requires seeing Arabs, and Palestinians in particular as less-than-human, this is pretty much expected.

Gay people in this world need Israel the way trans people need Andorra.

[King_David]

3. If not for Israel there would be no life for Gays in the Middle East

If a one state solution came about kiss gay life in the new entity bye bye


Gay fact of life

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

4. Dave just reinforced Scoot's second point.

[Scootaloo]

7. As Daniel points out, you're just reinforcing my point.

But please, do keep abusing and exploiting gay people in order to defend hatred and violence against Palestinians, Dave. Much as with your endorsements of Kenneth Meshoe and Chloe Valdary, it shows us what you really think of gay people.

[King_David]

8. As I told you many many times before ,Chloe Valdary is a fuckwit homophobe,

No matter how many times you try that route of slander .( which you usually pull out your pockets when you feel your on the losing side of an argument--jus saying )

As for Gay Israel , I know how much it pains you that Israel is one of the most Gay progressive places on earth and Tel Aviv consistently top Gay city for international visitors -- but that's just fact.

People do know this I'm sure ,unless they are completely clueless on the Gay file.Maybe you should research the Gay community a little ?

[Scootaloo]

9. Maybe you should pay attention to what people say?

no one's forgotten. it's just completely irrelevant to anything

Maybe you should save these threads for the LGBT group, Dave. They have nothing to do with Israel / Palestine. Because as much as it pains you, gay rights in Israel don't actually make it okay to blow up thousands of Arabs and forcibly subjugate millions more. Get that through your head.

[King_David]

10. If it's so irrelevant why you so dramatic about this all ?

Your free to cross post these in the Gay group if you want ...
Oh wait no your banned from there , never mind I will .

This has everything to do with IP btw because if ever a 1 state solution occurred like some advocate here , not only will every gay right disappear but possibly all gays .

What's with the :" Get that through your head "?
WTF do you think your talking to ?
Us gay boys don't get talked to like that anymore .

[King_David]

5. Israel's gays have progressed way beyond the Netherlands

Guess you haven't been to Amsterdam recently ... With all homophobic influx Amsterdam's no longer a gay Mecca .

Israel has just about every gay right possible including recognition of marriage , civil marriage is not allowed for gays nor straights and that's shameful.

Clearly your not up on the international gay file .

Tel Aviv is consistently up on the top 10 Gay cities .

Gay stuff just ain't in your knowledge base I guess.

Canada has the best rights for gays on the planet and Israel would do well to catch up to Canada but it's not far behind.
West Bank Gaza And their neighbors are pretty close to Uganda and not up to par with Russia.

[King_David]

6. Israel To Allow Gay Jews To Immigrate With Non-Jewish Same-Sex Spouses

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel says it will now allow Jews to immigrate to Israel with their non-Jewish same-sex spouses.

In a directive publicized Tuesday, Israeli Interior Minister Gideon Saar told immigration authorities not to differentiate between married gay and straight couples.

Israeli law grants citizenship to Jews and close non-Jewish relatives who move to Israel. In a few cases in recent years, Israel only naturalized non-Jewish same-sex spouses of Jews following threats of Supreme Court petitions, says Israeli immigration attorney Nicole Maor.

Israel does not permit gays to marry in the country, but recognizes same-sex marriages if they were performed legally abroad. It is generally tolerant toward gays.

Gays serve openly in Israel's military and parliament, and Israel's Supreme Court grants gays family rights including inheritance and survivors' benefits


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/12/israel-gay-jews-immigration-_n_5671435.html

[King_David]

12. 12 Best Cities For LGBT Members, Excluding New York And San Francisco

1. São Paulo, Brazil



2. Tel Aviv, Israel



3. Stockholm, Sweden



4. Amsterdam, The Netherlands



5. Toronto, Canada



Etc etc


http://www.buzzwok.com/12-best-cities-for-lgbt-members-excluding-new-york-and-san-francisco/#GT1



Don't you just love it ?