Q&A
Israel—because of opposition by the country’s still-powerful religious minority—the state effectively recognizes common-law marriage for same-sex couples, which gives them many financial and legal rights that we do not yet possess in America. (Israel does officially recognize gay marriages performed abroad.) Is it true that Israel is experiencing a gayby boom? Absolutely, yes. It’s a very family-oriented culture. Per capita, in fact, Israel has the highest number of children with gay parents in the world. I think that at least half of my gay Israeli friends have children. What is like to be a transsexual in Israel? Transsexuals face special challenges everywhere, but Israel is unusually accepting by international standards. One of the biggest celebrities in Israel is Dana International: a beautiful, openly transsexual pop singer who is widely loved by Israelis. In 1998, she was selected to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest, a hugely popular annual competition held among many of the active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union. She won. How does Israel’s nightlife compare to that of the USA? It varies from city to city, but Tel Aviv’s club scene is comparable to Los Angeles. It has clubs, bars, discos, gay beaches and a huge Gay Pride parade. Is Israel safe? Yes. In 2002, Israel began construction on the West Bank Barrier, which the government said was essential to prevent would-be suicide bombers from entering Israel and attacking civilians. This concretebased wall has indeed stopped suicide bombings and other attacks. And Israel proper is not a violent place. The rate of gun-related death there is less than one-fifth of what it is in the United States.
Photo Credit Christopher Logan
What can the USA learn from Israel? Where gay rights are concerned, it is best to adopt a national policy rather than defer, as the USA too often does, to “state’srights” arguments that effectively create large regions of secondclass citizenry. What can Israel learn from the USA? The momentum for full marriage equality in America has grown stronger, and more quickly, than even most gay activists had hoped. It would be nice to see more movement in that direction in Israel, even if the common-law system already gives gay couples many of marriage’s practical benefits. What’s the overall message of Undressing Israel? I would like for people to take away a greater understanding of how progressive and tolerant Israel really is. People sometimes ask why we should care about Israel. This is why: because Israel shares our core values. And in some areas—like gay rights—it can even help inspire us to live up to those values a little better. UNDRESSING ISRAEL is now available on DVD and on itunes at https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/undressing-israel/id819918825. For more information, visit undressingisrael-themovie.com.
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