Ya'alon vows to promote same-sex marriages in next Knesset

[King_David]

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon committed to promoting same-sex marriages in the next Knesset at a political panel held by the LGBT community in Tel Aviv on Friday morning.

"The community's members must be allowed to have a family life that includes marriage. This is a basic human right regardless of religion, race, gender or sexual preference," Ya'alon said.

The Likud candidate said he hoped the 20th Knesset, which will be elected on March 17, will advance new legislation for the LGBT community.
"It is our duty to allow the members of the community to start a family, raise children, live, make a living and contribute to Israeli society. I hope that the next Knesset passes laws that allow the members of the community to do just that," he added.

Representatives from the different political parties took part in the panel to discuss their positions on issues important to the community - primarily marriage rights. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, Tzipi Livni from Zionist Camp and Meretz chairwoman Zehava Gal-On also participated.

"Over the last few decades, the world has moved forward towards full equality," Ya'alon said. "Unfortunately, when we talk about equal rights, you (LGBT community), as those perceived in society as different, suffer from inequality in quite a few areas. Israeli society is on the right path, but it's not enough."

He admitted that Likud members have, in the past, led a strict policy against the LGBT community. "We had other elements who were trying to force a way that's not acceptable to the movement. The voters have shown what is the way most of the Likud's public supports."

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said at the panel that "as long as the LGBT community doesn't get equal rights, I am not living in a country in which I want to live. Equal civil marriages to all. This is a civil revolution that will allow any couple to make their union official, with all of the rights this entails. This won't pass easily, as this is a political revolution and a political war."


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4623762,00.html

[King_David]

1. snip....more/

Dr. Amit Kama, a communications researcher from the LGBT community, claims that to a certain extent, the relative comfort members of the LGBT community enjoy today is what decreases their political involvement.

"We've reached very nice achievements politically and these achievements have been translated into a comfortable life for more gays and lesbians - except for the issues of marriage and adoption. The younger generation doesn't deal with questions of legal discrimination like my generation had to, and that's why their political involvement has decreased significantly. I grew up in a generation in which homosexual relations were a criminal offense. People knew there was a law against their own existence, so they were more politically involved. I personally can't understand this lack of participation from the Israeli homo-lesbian community."

[Dr Hobbitstein]

2. "Homo-lesbian community"

Phrases like this always bother me. Lesbians are homosexual. Why do people say "gay and lesbian" or "homosexuals and lesbians"? It's unneeded extra words, imho.

Sorry for going off topic.

[King_David]

3. Doesn't bother me

I'm proud to be Gay, Homosexual, Queer... Whatever ...

[bemildred]

4. Yeah, yeah, Bennett says he is going to bring peace to crime-beseiged Arab towns.

Let's just admit they will say anything.

[King_David]

5. The rest of the article has the other major parties views..

Zionist Camp, Yesh Atid, Meretz

[bemildred]

6. Yeah, but I don't get to vote, and it's a full time job keeping up with who is who.

US politics is becoming more like that with Citizens United, a bunch of little free-lance enterpreneurs running their own little parties, creating and destroying them at the drop of a hat, but we aren't there yet.

Edit: a parliamentary arrangement makes it much easier to do.