Each year, hundreds of thousands of Jews and supporters of Israel attend Pride marches. With a few exceptions, these spaces have always been safe and welcoming for the broader Pride community.
But this year is different.
For American Jews, anxiety reigns as we head into this Pride season. The appalling rise of antisemitism since Oct. 7 forces us to ask difficult questions. As many Jews increasingly feel alienated and excluded from progressive spaces, we’re left to wonder: If I wear a Jewish symbol, march with a Jewish group, or wave a rainbow flag adorned with the Star of David, will I be safe at Pride?\
Even before Oct. 7, LGBTQ Jews had plenty of reason to feel trepidation about their safety at Pride. From blanket bans on Stars of David at past Pride gatherings to antisemitism on display at the recent Sydney Pride, too often Jews feel forced to choose between their LGBTQ and Jewish identities and hide their connection to Israel.
Since Oct. 7, terms like “apartheid,” “genocide” and “Zionism equals racism” are increasingly thrown around casually, often without a nuanced understanding of their impact or the realities they oversimplify. This rhetoric not only alienates but also endangers Jewish queer people. It makes us feel emotionally unsafe. It increases the chances that we will be physically unsafe as well.
We must not allow the Israel-Palestine conflict to be imported into Pride.
I will always remember the euphoria of the first Pride rally I attended. I was barely 18 years old, in a crowd of people of all ages, races, genders and gender orientations — and they were like me. Queer. It felt safe. It was the first time I experienced that feeling of safety, and it will always stay with me.
Like Pride events everywhere, it was a vibrant, colorful space for LGBTQ people to celebrate our true authentic selves, without fear or reservation.
But that feeling of safety wasn’t shared by everyone in my small New England town. I soon noticed a few people scattered throughout the crowd wearing paper bags over their heads, with eye holes so they could see but not be seen. I later learned that those faceless people were teachers who, in those days before civil rights protections, needed to protect their identities and their careers.
They did not feel safe. Will Jews and those who are connected to Israel feel safe this year?
The history of Pride is a testament to courage in the face of adversity. It wasn’t long ago when attending Pride events was a defiant act against societal norms, where participants like those teachers faced tangible threats of discrimination, ridicule and even violence. Even today in some places, our queer community still navigates a gauntlet of hatred as we try to celebrate who we are.
It’s crucial to recognize that within the Jewish community, there is a wide spectrum of views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including many who are deeply committed to advocating for Palestinian rights. In fact, many of the 1,200 innocent Israelis murdered on Oct. 7 were Zionists who devoted their lives to reconciliation and peace with their Arab neighbors.
We are at a pivotal moment, one that demands action: What can we do to ensure Pride remains a safe space for everyone, including Jewish participants?
It’s imperative that Pride committees around the country proactively address these concerns. They must implement training programs focused on de-escalation and fostering an environment of understanding and respect.
As individuals who stand in solidarity with the values of Pride, each of us must consider our role in this effort. Will you march alongside those of us who feel vulnerable, offering your presence as a shield against intolerance? Will you engage in dialogues that challenge the importation of external conflicts into Pride, advocating instead for a celebration that unites rather than divides?
The true test of inclusivity at Pride lies not merely in welcoming a diverse crowd, but in ensuring that every participant feels safe and valued. If we remain indifferent to the vulnerabilities faced by Jewish queer people this Pride season, we will fall short of the very ideals of inclusivity and solidarity that Pride stands for.
Just as we expect schools to protect trans and nonbinary students like Nex Benedict, we have a responsibility in the LGBTQ community to ensure that people can carry an Israeli flag or a Palestinian flag, wear a yarmulke or a hijab and be safe.
As we look forward to this year’s Pride, let us commit to making it a space where safety is not a privilege afforded to some but a right enjoyed by all. Let’s engage with our local Pride committees, advocate for comprehensive safety measures and stand in solidarity with those who feel at risk.
Only then can we celebrate the true spirit of Pride, rooted in love, acceptance and the unwavering belief in equality for all.
Ethan Felson is the executive director of A Wider Bridge.
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PRESS RELEASE
A Wider Bridge Announces Daniel Hernandez as Board Chair, Rabbi Denise Eger as Interim Executive Director
Hernandez and Eger take the helm alongside additional leadership, including a newly formed Executive Committee.
NEW YORK — Today, A Wider Bridge announced that former Arizona Rep. Daniel Hernandez has joined as Board Chair and Rabbi Denise Eger has joined as Interim Executive Director.
One of the youngest members elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, Hernandez brings deep experience in collaborating with broad coalitions to make progress across a range of issues. During his six year tenure in the House, Hernandez led on initiatives and legislation that connect closely to A Wider Bridge’s work. He co-founded the House LGBT Caucus; helped lead the effort to repeal the archaic and discriminatory 1991 “no promo homo” law, which prevented conversations or courses acknowledging or positively portraying homosexuality; and introduced a bipartisan resolution in recognition of Israel’s Independence Day. Hernandez previously worked with former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and currently serves as the Government Affairs Director at Stand for Children in Arizona.
“As LGBTQ rights are threatened across the country, A Wider Bridge will continue to serve as an organizing home for Jewish and non-Jewish LBGTQ folks and allies,” said Daniel Hernandez. “I look forward to collaborating with Rabbi Eger and the full team as we gear up for Pride and expand and grow our work—we are full speed ahead.”
Hernandez will work closely with Interim Executive Director Rabbi Denise Eger, the first woman to serve in the role at the organization. An international Jewish leader, author, sought after speaker, and social justice activist, Eger will serve as Interim Executive Director as A Wider Bridge conducts a search for a full-time executive director. Eger is the first openly LGBTQ person to be president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis; the first woman to head the Southern California Board of Rabbis; and Founding Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood, CA— a congregation defined by rich Jewish tradition, social justice, and an LGBTQ+ core at the center of a diverse community. In addition to her nearly 40 years on the pulpit, Eger brings her current experience coaching clergy and nonprofit executives as a PCC level accredited executive and performance coach.
“As a longtime admirer of A Wider Bridge, I am honored to be stepping in as Interim Executive Director,” said Rabbi Denise Eger. “During this time of transition, I am committed to working closely with our team, Board, and Executive Committee to continue the critical work ahead to advocate for LBGTQ rights and justice, connect LGBTQ communities in North America and Israel, and fight antisemitism, LGBTQ hate, and other forms of hate.”
Eger and Hernandez will serve alongside a newly-formed Executive Committee, which is a subset of the Board that is working closely with senior staff to help guide strategy and day-to-day work and that serves as a liaison to the full Board.
What is the WZC?
Between March 10 and May 4, 2025, American Jews will vote for their delegates to the 39th World Zionist Congress, the “”parliament of the Jewish people,”” which will convene in Jerusalem in October 2025. Founded by Theodor Herzl in 1897, the World Zionist Congress was instrumental in the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948.
Now the World Zionist Congress brings together Israeli Jewish leaders and Diaspora Jewish leaders who, in addition to policy, will make key decisions on allocating over $1 billion annually to support the most pressing needs across Israeli society and the Diaspora.
Voting in the election is the most powerful opportunity to have your voice heard in Israel. The representatives who are elected, with one-third of them coming from the United States, make an impact in Jewish communities worldwide and stand up for Zionism and the Jewish people in Israel and around the world.
What is this guide?
There are 21 different American slates of electors that will determine both policy and how over $1 billion dollars is spent Israel and the Diaspora. This guide will help you vote. We asked each slate to answer questions about their positions on support for and inclusion of the LGBTQ community in Israel and the United States and on their slate. This guide has the answers of the slates who returned the survey.
Who can vote in the World Zionist Congress elections?
To be eligible to vote in the U.S. election to the 39th World Zionist Congress, you must:
Be Jewish (and not subscribe to another religion
Be 18 years or older by June 30, 2025
Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident in the U.S.
Maintain your primary residence in the U.S.
Accept the Jerusalem Program (the Zionist movement platform) (See link for more details)
Have not voted in the November 2022 Israeli Knesset election (and will not vote in any future Knesset election whic may be held prior to July 28, 2025)
How do you vote?
Registration and voting will open on March 10, 2025, and continue through May 4, 2025. Voting will be online and paper ballots will be available on request. The fee to register and vote is $5, which goes to cover the operating costs of the elect Use this link to register to vote. And if you have registered use this link to vote.
What is the Jerusalem Program?
The JERUSALEM PROGRAM is the official platform of the World Zionist Organization and the global Zionist movement, having been most recently amended and adopted in February 2024, as the successor statement to the “”Basel Program”” of 1897 adopted at the First Zionist Congress convened by Theodor Herzl. The Jerusalem Program states that:
Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, brought about the establishment of the State of Israel, and views a Jewish, Zionist, democratic and secure State of Israel to be the expression of the common responsibility of the Jewish people for its continuity and future.
The Jerusalem Program’s foundations of Zionism are:
The unity of the Jewish people, its bond to its historic homeland Eretz Yisrael, and the centrality of the State of lsr and Jerusalem, its capital, in the life of the nation;
Aliyah to Israel from all countries and the effective integration of all immigrants into Israeli society.
Strengthening Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state and shaping it as an exemplary society with a uniq moral and spiritual character, marked by mutual respect for the multi-faceted Jewish people, rooted in the vision the prophets, striving for peace and contributing to the betterment of the world.
Ensuring the future and the distinctiveness of the Jewish people by furthering Jewish, Hebrew and Zionist educati fostering spiritual and cultural values and teaching Hebrew as the national language;
Nurturing mutual Jewish responsibility, defending the rights of Jews as individuals and as a nation, representing national Zionist interests of the Jewish people, and struggling against all manifestations of antisemitism;
Settling the country as an expression of practical Zionism.
Encouraging recruitment and service in the Israel Defense Forces and the security forces and strengthening them the protective force of the Jewish people living in Zion, as well as encouraging full National Service for anyone exempted in law from service in the IDF.
What has A Wider Bridge done to ensure LGBTQ participation and involvement in the World Zionist Congress?
AWB has sent surveys to each of the 21 American slates for their positions on LGBTQ+ issues both in the U.S. and Israel and also asked each slate about their diversity of electors. Further A Wider Bridge worked closely with the American Zionist Movement (AZM) to ensure that LGBTQ+ candidates were part of the process. We also reached out to slates that we knew were allies in previous WZC elections to help ensure that their slates would represent the LGBTQ+ community in more than just a token way.
A Wider Bridge is a member of the American Zionist Movement- and many of our Board members, alumni, and supporters ar electors on various slates.
Slates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot (by random drawing). You can click on each slate’s name below to see their platform statement and list of candidates.
Our “Vote Reform” slate is deeply committed to a strong and secure Israel and strengthening the Israel-Diaspora relationship, working in close partnership with our Israeli Reform Movement. As Reform Zionists, we seek a democratic, pluralistic, and vibrant Israeli society. We believe deeply in Jewish peoplehood and that all Jews are responsible for one another. We support the work and mission of our Israeli Reform Movement in creating vibrant, authentic, new expressions and models of Jewish life in the Jewish State and working to provide for those who are powerless and on the margins of Israeli society. We continue to work tirelessly for the release of the hostages and an end to the war. We are alarmed by and are committed to combating the rising threat of antisemitism and anti-Zionism in the U.S. and in Diaspora communities around the world.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBT communities in Israel and the diaspora?
Yes, the VOTE REFORM slate is committed to supporting resolutions in the World Zionist Congress, as well as annually in th Zionist General Council, that advance LGBTQ rights and support the LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora. We ha a long history of both drafting and supporting such resolutions, with successful passage. In 2021, we successfully champion anti-bias and anti-hate training for shlichim (emissaries), and we have called for celebrating Pride week. Most recently in February 2024, we drafted and successfully led the passage of a resolution calling for the acknowledgement that we are all made “b’tzelem elohim,” demanding education and inclusion in Israel and the Diaspora that centers the LGBTQ community. As noted there, we believe that “every Jewish person, every Jewish soul, is held within our embrace.”
Resolutions are just the beginning of our advocacy and impact. Our full-time professional and lay representatives and advocates use every lever available across the National Institutions to fight for inclusion, education and awareness. Our careful negotiation and discussions across the aisle have shifted the discourse and inclusion in halls of power. Our public comment in Jewish Agency committee sessions and our confidential conversations highlight the current environment for LGBTQ individuals in the United States and seek to support our LGBTQ individuals where they face challenges. We were proud to hang a pride flag off of the balcony of the National Institutions building in Jerusalem during the Pride Parade.
Vote Reform is a consistent (and insistent) voice advocating for the LGBTQ community with demonstrable impact. Our Reform Movement in Israel, together with its advocacy arm the Israel Religious Action Center, is one of the leaders in combating discrimination against the LGBTQ community in Israel. We provide legal representation to the Jerusalem Open House, help organize the Jerusalem pride march, and take legal action against the exclusion of the LGBTQ community from essential opportunities such as adoption, marriage, and Aliyah.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protectio and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
The Reform Movement has a long history and track record of standing up for LGBTQ rights in the US, Israel, and around th world. In Israel, through our work with Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), we have championed same-sex marriage, survivor’s rights for the same-sex spouses of fallen soldiers, and the rights of same-sex couples to adopt in the courts and i the Knesset. A plank in the Vote Reform slate specifically calls for “Full equality under the law for all Israelis, including minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ people.”
Our values include:
Shared Humanity (B1tzelem Elohim): We see everyone as created in the divine image and, as such, treat everyon with respect, dignity, and kindness.
Justice (Dirshu mishpat): We seek justice for all people throughout the world.
Belonging (Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem): We build, connect, and enrich communities – congregations, camps, programs, social justice work, and more – where youth and adults across all identities, generations, and lived experiences feel a deep sense of belonging.
Learning (Talmud Torah k’neged kulam): We honor Torah; wrestle with Jewish traditions and beliefs, including Go and engage directly with the difficult questions of our age.
Evolving (U’vtuvo mechadesh b’chol yom tamid ma’aseh v’raysheet): We awaken to new awareness, holdin ourselves accountable for changing as we grow.
“Israel and Jewish Peoplehood (Kol yisrael arevim zeh ba’zeh): We are committed to the safety and vitality of th Jewish people and to a secure and just state of Israel as a home – for all Jews and for all its inhabitants.
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
Vote Reform defines a Jewish and democratic Israel as one that represents the founding principles from Israel’s Declaration of Independence:
THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
To that end, Vote Reform also promotes efforts within Israel that condemn and fight against racism, respect and support religious pluralism, and end the Orthodox monopoly over religious life. We also believe that Israel’s strength is manifested b promoting a shared society. These positions are rooted in an understanding of Israel as a vibrant, thriving democracy committed to religious freedom.
Vote Reform is committed to a Jewish, democratic State of Israel, flourishing in peace and security. One of Vote Reform’s cor principles is at that we believe that Kol yisrael arevim zeh ba’zeh (Shevuot 39a), “All of Israel and the Jewish people are responsible, one for the other.” We are committed to the safety and vitality of the Jewish people and to a secure and just sta of Israel as a home – for all Jews and for all its inhabitants.
Vote Reform believes that nothing less than the soul of the State of Israel is at stake in the 2025 WZC election. The ultra-Orthodox slates running in this election intend to advance their agenda and make Israel a right-wing theocracy governed by a strict interpretation of the Torah, which would threaten the very foundations of Israel’s democracy.
KOL ISRAEL
Slate Statement
Kol Israel is a diverse and dynamic slate committed to strengthening ties between Jews in America and Israel, combatting antisemitism on campuses and K-12, investing in informal Zionist education and youth, amplifying underrepresented voices, and driving bold, innovative ideas. Backed by leaders from StandWithUs, Young Judaea, NJY camps, and other key organizations, our 130 delegates include Tessa Veksler, Adela Cojab Moadeb, Eyal Yakoby, Elon Gold, Montana Tucker, and many passionate activists. We aim to build a stronger, more united, and forward-thinking Zionist movement.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora?
Of course. Including new voices and representing often marginalized groups – including LGBTQ, women, and Mizrachi Jews – is central to our slate’s values, culture, and goals. We will not only support such resolutions but also will work to initiate them where and when needed.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protection and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
Kol Israel, the General Zionist party, has a proud tradition as the tent for all Zionists since the beginning of the Congress. We are about getting the job done by bringing all Zionists into the work of ensuring Israel and the Jewish people continue to develop and flourish. Among our top 20 delegates, we have two leading LGBTQ activists LGBTQ activists – Yuval David and Matthew Nouriel. Our slate represents women and minority groups far beyond the requirements of the election. Representing marginalized groups – including LGBTQ, women, and Mizrachi Jews – is embedded in the very DNA of who our slate is and what we represent.
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
One of the many challenges that we face in this WZC election is greater clarity on the balance between individual liberties and remaining a proud and nationalist democratic and Jewish state. We believe this needs to happen through brave, bold, and transparent discussions about how much work still needs to be done in order for Israel to achieve this proper balance. The discussion and centrality of inclusion and diversity within Kol Israel’s slate includes exploration of how to keep the Jewish culture and pride of Israel intact while ensuring complete freedom of religion and cultural expression for all of Israel’s citizens.
To grow as a beacon of freedom and light ‘unto the nations,’ we still have much work to do as a people to determine the ideal balance of these principles and the best models for achieving that balance in practice.
A NEW UNION
Slate Statement
A New Union (ANU) is a big tent slate of young leaders in the American Jewish community who believe in building consensus through communication and conversation. We believe promoting pluralism, peoplehood, and the two-state solution will ensure the future of Israel as a secure, democratic, and just Jewish state.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora?
Yes, ANU stands unreservedly with the LGBTQ community in Israel and abroad.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protection and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
Pluralism is the first of our platform’s three core tenets. Securing equality for the LGBTQ community is the only to ensure Israel lives up to the Zionist dream of a national home of all Jews. The Congress and the national institutions should use their budgets, influence, and reach to promote policies and proposals that advance the civil rights, legal and physical protections, and political representation of marginalized Jews and Israelis wherever they are in the world.
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
An inclusive interpretation of Jewish life in all its diverse and unique forms, as practiced by Jews of every persuasion, is critical to Israel’s future as the Jewish state. The Ministry of Religious Services must support the wide spectrum of Jewish customs, prayers, and rituals and fund the infrastructure required to build up non-Orthodox Jewish life in Israel. Democracy is a cornerstone of the modern state of Israel. Without a separation of powers between the country’s legislature and its executive, the judiciary serves as the only check on the government. The ongoing assault on Israel’s independent judiciary is an existential threat. The Congress and the national institutions must exert maximum pressure on the current administration to rollback its undemocratic power grab and to guarantee Israel’s future as a secure, Democratic, and just Jewish state.
An extensive effort must also be undertaken to encourage the political participation of Israeli Arabs and Palestinian citizens of Israel. Declining voter turnout from Israel’s largest minority group signals a growing disappointment in the political process, a trend that must be reversed if Israel is to remain a true democracy.
AID COALITION
Slate Statement
America-Israel Democracy (AID) Coalition brings together Israeli-Americans with deep ties to Israel to lead efforts for a stronger future. collaborate with Israeli organizations to address critical needs while contributing unique perspectives of Israelis based in the U.S.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora?
The AID COALITION slate is committed to promoting an equitable and democratic Israeli society, ensuring a fair distribution of resources for all communities. As part of our mission for transparency, democracy, and improved budget allocation, we support initiatives that guarantee equal representation and rights for all individuals, including the LGBTQ+ community.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protection and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
AID COALITION is composed of leaders from various professional backgrounds with an emphasis on social activism. Our leaders are dedicated to ensuring that Zionist institutions allocate resources transparently and fairly for the benefit of all Israelis and Jewish communities worldwide. We actively promote the advancement of marginalized populations, commit to equal opportunities, and support communitie in need, including the LGBTQ+ community.
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
Israel is the Nation-State of the Jewish people and is committed to preserving democratic values of freedom, equality, and justice for all its citizens. AID COALITION will work to ensure that Zionist institutions uphold democratic principles, ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency, and foster a supportive structure for all Israeli communities.
We believe that a Jewish and Democratic State must reinforce democracy, operate transparently, and actively promote the success of all Israeli communities.
ZOA COALITION
Slate Statement
The Slate With the Proven Record of Fighting for Israel-Judea-Samaria, Jewish Students, the Jewish People and Globalizin Jewish Safety The ZOA Coalition represents Russian, Persian, Syrian, Bukharian, Ukrainian, Latino, French, Israeli, Ashken”s Sephardi, Mizrahi, and other American-Jewish communities.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora?
ZOA Coalition’s first priority in this era of global antisemitism is the safety and well-being of Israel and EVERY Jew – saving Jewish lives, rescuing and helping endangered Jews make Aliyah to Israel, no matter what their status is, and combatting antisemitism and BOS (anti-Jewish boycotts, divestment and sanctions).
ZOA Coalition initiated and obtained passage of the World Zionist Congress’ combatting anti-BOS policy and the WZC resolution to make Aliyah for endangered Jews the highest funding priority. ZOA Coalition members (including ZOA and the Lawfare Project) provide free legal services to Jews and pro-Israel individuals who face harassment and discrimination on college campuses. We agree with A Wider Bridge’s former Executive Oirector Tyler Gregory’s statement that “”anti-Semitism manifests against Jews irrespective of privilege and status.
The ZOA Coalition believes in love and respect for EVERY Jew. We avoid making advance commitments to support or oppose specific WZO programs sought by any particular Jewish denomination or segment, because we believe that the WZC’s priority must be the safety of the ENTIRE Jewish people.
We believe that this focus on the entire Jewish community serves LGBTQ and every other Jewish group well. ZOA Coalition continues to be endorsed by the highest ranking openly LGBTQ official in the Israeli government, Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana (who formerly served as Minister of Justice). ZOA has often worked with LGBT groups and individuals on security and other issues affecting the entire Jewish people. ZOA sponsored and arranged talks for MK Ohana at New York synagogues when he visited the U.S. ZOA and the LGBTQ group Log Cabin Republicans worked together to obtain Senate confirmation of diplomat Ric Grenell as U.S. Ambassador to Germany Ric thereafter became Acting Director of National Intelligence.
Ambassador Grenell is a great friend of Israel. ZOA honored Ric at ZOA’s annual gala. RIc was the highest ranking LGBTQ member in the first Trump U.S. administration, and is now Envoy for Special Missions in the second Trump administration. ZOA and Amb. Grenell worked together to successfully deport the last remaining known Nazi war criminal residing in the U.S., and on pro-Israel issues.
ZOA was one of the main organizers of the large anti-Iran deal protests, and asked LGBTQ groups to join us at the protests. We were pleased that some LGBTQ groups participated. We would like LGBTQ groups and individuals to join our protests and initiatives to protect the safety of every Jew. ZOA and ZOA Coalition partners often speak about and condemn the Iranian regime’s brutal murders of LGBTQ individuals.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protection and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
Sadly, with rising antisemitism, all Jews are marginalized people today. As discussed above, ZOA Coalition prioritizes the safety and security of Israel and EVERY Jew, and promotes love and respect for EVERY Jew. Hamas doesn’t differentiate among us:
Hamas calls for murdering every Jew. The ZOA Coalition is a coalition of 30+ (I think we are now up to about 35) strong pro-Israel groups and 170 diverse candidates from every ethnic, etc. segment of the Jewish community.
ZOA Coalition continues to be endorsed by the highest ranking openly LGBTQ official in the Israeli government, Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana, who also formerly served as Minister of Justice. At least one openly LGBTQ candidate is on the ZOA Coalition slate; perhaps more – I don’t know. To us, we are all Jews and the security of every Jews is priority one.
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
Israel is the historic, lawful homeland of the Jewish people. We support Israel’s nation-state Basic law, which declares that “”the State of Israel is the national home of the Jewish people, in which it fulfills its natural, cultural, religious and historical right to self-determination. The nation-state law and Israel’s other basic laws protect minority rights and are consistent with democracy and the laws of numerous other democratic nations.
ZOA Coalition believes that Israel’s court system needs to become more democratic by giving the Israeli public or their democratically-elected representatives a say in the appointment of judges, instead of letting judges appoint themselves. Israel’s Declaration of Independence called for efforts to establish a constitution. Because Israel was immediately attacked by seven Arab nations after declaring its independence, and has had to deal with repeated threats to her existence sine then, other issues always took precedence, and this effort never happened. Whether or not Israel’s parliamentary democracy is the best system, or whether a representative democracy more similar to the U.S. system or some other democratic system is best, is a debate worth having when Israel is not in the midst of fighting for its survival. In 1897, the ZOA was at the first World Zionist Congress, helping lay the groundwork for the re-establishment of the Jewish state. Today ZOA Coalition is at the forefront of t battle against those who challenge Israel’s legitimacy.
We educate people about the binding international agreements guaranteeing the Jewish people’s right to settle the land of Israel and reconstitute the Jewish homeland. ZOA Coalition initiated and obtained passage of a resolution establishing a WZO program to teach this vital information about Israel’s and the Jewish people’s legal rights.
HATIKVAH
Slate Statement
Hatikvah is a broad coalition of liberal and progressive American Jews who strive to fully actualize the vision stated in Israel Declaration of Independence: the State of Israel “will be based on the precepts of liberty, justice and peace as taught by the Prophets; and will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed, or sex; and will guarantee full freedom of conscience worship, education and culture.”
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora?
Yes, absolutely. In the past, we have worked as a slate to amplify the voices and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. This includes showing support for pride events worldwide, championing the World LGBTQ+ Jewish Congress, and launching an “LGBTQ+ Aliyah” platform.
Additionally, we have many leaders on our slate from the LGBTQ+ community including Evan Wolfson, Maine Representative Laurie Osher, Rabbi Amichai Lau Lavie, Margo Hughes- Robinson, Zach Shartiag, Stuart Applebaum, Justin Rosen Smolen and Rabbi Deborah Waxman.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protection and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
We believe that our American Jewish values are inextricably intertwined with our Zionism. Everyone has a right to self determination and no one’s self determination should come at the expense of anyone else’s. This text taken directly from our platform that reads “Hatikvah’s Zionism includes social equality, gender rights, LGBTQI+ equality and racial and economic justice for all.”
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
Hatikvah is a broad coalition of liberal and progressive American Jews who strive to fully actualize the vision stated in Israel’s Declaration of Independence: the State of Israel “will be based on the precepts of liberty, justice and peace as taught by the Prophets; and will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed, or sex; and will guarantee full freedom of conscience worship, education and culture.
Hatikvah is committed to preserving Israel’s democracy and the rule of law; believing that all of its citizens must be treated equally and their civil and human rights protected. We marched with the pro-democracy movement in Israel and around the world to defend the judicial system.
Hatikvah supports religious and cultural pluralism in Israeli society and in Jewish communities around the globe. For the State of Israel to be an engine for Jewish continuity, it must empower the wide range of Jewish cultural and religious expression.
We remain steadfast in our long-term objective of a diplomatic pathway ensuring freedom, security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Hatikvah fiercely opposes a policy of permanent occupation and annexation of the West Bank. Without a diplomatic pathway ensuring freedom, security, and sovereignty for both Israelis and Palestinians, we will continue to perpetuate the cycle of violence for generations to come.
MERCAZ
Slate Statement
MERCAZ USA is the Zionist Organization of the American Conservative/Masorti Movement. At the next World Zionist Congress, MERCAZ USA will advocate for a strong and secure Israel rooted in the moral and spiritual vision of the Hebr prophets-a society that celebrates democratic principles, embraces diverse Jewish traditions, and safeguards the rights dignity and inclusion of all its citizens. As Israel recovers from October 7 and with antisemitism rising around the world, our mission is more critical than ever.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora?
Absolutely. MERCAZ USA will advocate for an Israel and Jewish society rooted in the moral and spiritual vision of the Hebre prophets, where diversity and inclusion are prioritized and celebrated. We are committed to working within the World Zionist Congress to present and support policies designed to advance LGBTQ+ rights and support LGTBQ+ communities in Israel and throughout the diaspora.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protection and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
MERCAZ USA is committed to the equal protection of LGBTQ+ members of the Jewish community in Israel and worldwide. MERCAZ USA’s values are the values of your Conservative/Masorti community, and together we are committed to democracy, civil rights and fair treatment of Jews and non-Jews in Israel, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, or denomination. Our vision for a safe and secure Israel includes everyone. We also recognize that other forms of hate can compound the global rise in antisemitism, and this phenomenon places a particular burden on LGBTQ+ community members. Through our programming and community engagement, we embrace the ideals of Tikkun Olam, repair the world, and meet the needs of our community.
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
MERCAZ USA believes all Jews deserve space in the Zionist vision of a safe, secure, Jewish and democratic Israel. Strong representation from MERCAZ USA in the World Zionist Congress influences the right of every Jew, regardless of their background or affiliation, to make Aliyah and have full rights to participate in religious life and that all Jews worldwide are supported in their identity and expression of Judaism.
DORSHEI TORAH V’TZION
Slate Statement
In the wake of the horrific attacks on October 7, 2023, the Zionist Movement needs to unify to elect proven bridgebuilders with the ability to work across the entire Zionist ideological spectrum. At the most recent Zionist Congress, Dorshei Torah v’Tzion (DTT) demonstrated that it could play this role to span that divide.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora?
Yes – not only are we committed to supporting these resolutions, we have played a key bridging role in the past to overcoming opposition to these resolutions. Specifically, in March 2023, at a meeting of the Zionist General Council, an amendment was proposed to the WZO Constitution to require all persons affiliated with the Zionist movement to commit to the principle that Zionism is a movement that does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, and sexual orientation. Mos Orthodox parties sought to defeat the proposed amendment. They claimed that it was intended to block Orthodox participation from the Zionist institutions since opponents of Orthodox parties would cite Orthodox practices that they see a discriminatory. DTT is an Orthodox slate that backed the amendment from the onset, and then proposed additional languag to make clear that while we want all Zionists, including Orthodox Zionists, to support an inclusive Zionist movement, no recognized religious practice would be used as evidence that a religious individual or organization was in violation of their pledge.
Furthermore, our platform has a specific plank on LGBTQ+ inclusion that reads: DTT seeks a Zionist movement and a State of Israel that is inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and all family structures. LGBTQ+ individuals must be protected from harassment and discrimination, and they have the right to build the families of their choosing, including through surrogacy and adoption.
Lastly, DTT is the first Orthodox slate to include an LGBTQ+ organization as one of its official endorsers.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protection and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
As we said in the previous question, our platform advances the following vision and values: DTT seeks a Zionist movement and a State of Israel that is inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and all family structures. LGBTQ+ individuals must b protected from harassment and discrimination, and they have the right to build the families of their choosing, including through surrogacy and adoption.
We support organizations in Israel who for many years have been working for LGTBQ+ inclusion in Israeli society including schools, the IDF, community centers, and government services. Some examples include: the Jerusalem Open House, the Tel Aviv LGBTQ Center, legal defense services, IGY, Shoval, and other youth service organizations. In the United States, Eshel, a DTT endorser, has relationships with over 250 congregational Rabbis and works with schools and communities toward greater inclusion.
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
We believe that the raison d’etre of the State of Israel is to create a State where Jews all over the world will find a home and safe haven, create the space for Judaism to flourish, and give expression to the Jewish story. We believe that this can and should be accomplished while still providing equal protection and participation to all citizens living in the borders of the Stat of Israel.
Democratic nation states all over the world continue to struggle to balance deeply held values of broad individual freedoms and rights alongside a strong national identity. Israel is no different and we welcome being part of this challenging and important global conversation.
ISRAELI AMERICAN COUNCIL
Slate Statement
The IAC promotes unity by producing a vibrant, engaged, and unapologetically confident Israeli-American and Jewish-American community, regardless of observance level or partisan affiliation, as part of one global Jewish family.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora?
Our slate is committed to fostering a strong and united Jewish people, embracing the diversity of our community. We support efforts to ensure that all Jews, regardless of background or identity, feel safe, valued, and included in Jewish life in Israel and the diaspora. While our primary mission is to strengthen the connection between Israeli-Americans and Israel, we believe in upholding principles of equality and respect for all. We were of help to students from the LGBTQ community who were not allowed to march in the SF pride parade and helped with drafting letters and sending people to sign a petition against the decision of the parade’s organizers.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protection and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
As a slate dedicated to the Israeli-American community, we stand for a strong, democratic, and inclusive Israel that protects the rights of all its citizens. We recognize the importance of ensuring that every member of our community, including marginalized groups, has the opportunity to thrive. We support a society that respects individual freedoms and human dignity, and we stand against discrimination in all its forms.
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
We believe that Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state is essential to its character and future. As the homeland of the Jewish people, Israel preserves and nurtures Jewish heritage, culture, and identity. As a democracy, it upholds the rule of law, equal rights for all citizens, and a commitment to individual freedoms. These dual values-Jewish and democratic-are the foundation of Israel’s strength and resilience, ensuring that it remains a beacon of hope and a home for Jews worldwide.
HERUT NORTH AMERICA
Slate Statement
Voting for Slate 23 means voting for a movement with unwavering dedication to the Jewish people’s future and the State of Israel. Herut North America is more than an organization-it is a cause dedicated to the empowerment and unity of the Jewish people. For those passionate about Zionist education, Jewish security, or advocating for Israel’s future, Herut offers a meaningful platform for impact and action, rooted in Zionist values and an unwavering commitment to Jewish pride and resilience. Herut’s participation in the World Zionist Congress is an opportunity to advance these principles on a global stage by unabashedly proud and empowered Zionists.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Will your slate commit to supporting resolutions in the WZC that support LGBTQ communities in Israel and the diaspora?
Herut North America, grounded in the teachings of Ze’ev Jabotinsky, believes in the dignity, security, and freedom of every human being and all Jews, regardless of background. Jabotinsky was a tireless advocate for individual rights and opposed discrimination in any form. He championed a Jewish state where all Jews could live freely, with equal rights and opportunitie Jabotinsky famously said, “”Every individual is a king,”” because he believed in the inherent dignity of every person. For him, human rights were as obvious and essential as the air we breathe. He understood that the role of government was not to control how people live their lives but to ensure their freedom and security. His principle of “Live and let live” emphasized th a just society must allow individuals to exist without fear, oppression, or coercion-regardless of background, race, or gende Human rights, in Jabotinsky’s eyes, were self-evident and non-negotiable.
Although LGBTQ rights were not part of the public discourse in Jabotinsky’s time, he was unwavering in his belief that every individual deserved full inclusion in society. He rejected all forms of discrimination, and for him, this extended to every group of people. While others in his era may not have spoken out for LGBTQ rights, Jabotinsky’s commitment to equality and justic would have included their rightful place in society, free from oppression and discrimination.
Now, in 2025, we at Herut proudly carry forward Jabotinsky’s legacy by welcoming all LGBTQ Jews into our Zionist tent. Our movement stands for a strong, vibrant Jewish homeland where every Jew, including LGBTQ individuals, can live with dignity security, and full participation in society. We do not see LGBTQ Jews as a separate group, but as inseparable members of A Yisrael, who share in our collective mission and destiny.
At Herut, we reject any form of “othering” within the Jewish community. Every Jewish person, regardless of background or identity, is an equal member of our people. As a movement committed to unapologetic Zionism, we evaluate each resolutio through the lens of our core mission: strengthening Israel, defending Jewish sovereignty, and ensuring that the rights of all Jews are protected-without exception, and without compromise.
Please describe your slate’s position on LGBTQ equality in Israel and the protection and advancement of marginalized Israelis and Jews worldwide.
Herut stands for a strong, sovereign Israel that upholds the dignity and rights of all its citizens. Jabotinsky’s philosophy emphasized hadar-dignity, self-respect, and pride-as essential Jewish values. In this spirit, Herut opposes discrimination against any Jew, including LGBTQ individuals, and supports efforts to ensure their full inclusion in Israeli society and the Zionist movement. Furthermore, Herut recognizes that many marginalized Jewish communities-whether LGBT, Mizrahi, Ethiopian, or others-face challenges in Israel and the Diaspora. Our movement is committed to strengthening Jewish unity and ensuring that all Jews, regardless of background, have opportunities to thrive in Israel and contribute to its success. Herut is also pro that our leadership and candidate delegate list includes many members of the LGBT community whose contributions to our movement are integral.
How does your slate define Israel as a Jewish and Democratic state?
Herut adheres to Jabotinsky’s vision of Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state, with its Jewish identity rooted in its national character and its democratic values ensuring equal rights for all citizens. Jabotinsky argued that democracy was essential for a strong Jewish state, ensuring that all individuals, Jewish or non-Jewish, enjoy full civil rights under the law. For Herut, a Jewish and democratic state means:
Jewish National Sovereignty: Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people, with Jewish self-determination at its core.
Democratic Governance: Every citizen of Israel has equal legal rights and protections under the law, in accordance with Jabotinsky’s principle of liberal democracy.
National Strength & Pride: A strong Israel must balance its Jewish identity with its democratic responsibilie ensuring that both elements reinforce, rather than undermine, one another.
In summary, Israel’s Jewishness is its national foundation, and its democracy ensures that all citizens, including Jews fr backgrounds, are treated with fairness and dignity.
SHAS OLAMI
Slate Statement
Shas Olami in the World Sephardic Zionist Organization was established in 2010 at the request of Maran HaRav Ovadia Yos zt””l. Its mission is to serve as a platform within the Zionist Movement around the world, to provide tools and means for traditional Sephardic communities to speak out and influence the direction of Jewish education and way of life within Jewish communities throughout the world.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Shas Olami did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
VISION
Slate Statement
The Vision movement is committed to inspiring a new vision for this current chapter of our people’s story. Our programs ai to provide young leaders with the tools to identify and achieve the next goals of Jewish history. Our partners and affiliates share a commitment to Jewish liberation as a means of pursuing justice for all peoples and a better world in accordance wih the values of Israel’s sacred tradition.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Vision did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
ORTHODOX ISRAEL COALITION MIZRAHI
Slate Statement
For over 120 years, OIC-Mizrachi has represented the Religious Zionist community in the World Zionist Congress, reflecting Torah values, dedication and service to the State of Israel and fostering unity within Am Yisrael.
A vote for OIC – Mizrachi will enable us to continue to infuse Israel and Jewish communities around the world with the Religious Zionist values that you stand for, together building the future of Israel.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
OIC-Mizrachi did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
ISRAEL 365 ACTION
Slate Statement
lsrael365 Action is a grassroots advocacy movement fighting for the Jewish people’s right to the entire land of lsrael. You can stop a Palestinian terror state in Judea & Samaria by voting for lsrael365 Action in the World Zionist Congress elections.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Israel365 Action did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
ACHDUT ISRAEL
Slate Statement
The mission of our slate centers on ensuring safety and security for Israeli citizens, Jewish communities worldwide, and the soldiers who protect them. This includes providing resources for self-defense, fostering resilience against antisemitism, and safeguarding the well-being of those on the frontlines. We are equally committed to strengthening the diaspora’s connection to Israel and advancing the Zionist dream of settling the land. By supporting the settling of the country and creating affordabl housing that extends to all corners of Israel, we maintain truly defensible borders, securing a thriving homeland for future
generations. Together, we protect and preserve the strength and unity of the Jewish people.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Achdut Israel did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
AM ISRAEL CHAI
Slate Statement
Since October 7, the next generation of Jewish leaders is being tested in ways American Jews have not been tested in generations. Therefore we invest in programming, educational opportunities, community building, Israel-related activitie mentorship and more to ensure that Jewish college students and young professionals have the knowledge, passion and resilience to be our tomorrow.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Am Israeli Chai (AIC) did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
AISH HA’AM
Slate Statement
AISH HA’AM is a movement dedicated to igniting Jewish passion, sharing Jewish wisdom, and creating Jewish unity. With a global presence, on university campuses, and online, we work to ensure every Jew feels part of the vibrant tapestry of Jewish life. Our platform is built on the pillars of Jewish unity, supporting Israel, combating antisemitism, and ensuring Jewish education for all, envisioning a world that is united, strong, educated, and deeply connected to our people and ancestral homeland. Our slate comprises an impressive group of leading Jewish educators, student leaders from college campuses, social media influencers advocating for Israel, and dedicated lay leaders who champion our values and actively shape the Jewish future.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Aish Ha’am did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
ERETZ HAKODESH
Slate Statement
Eretz HaKodesh is a movement dedicated to protecting the sanctity of Eretz Yisroel and preserving Torah values influencing the decisions of the WZO. Through delegates elected by you, they represent your voice in the Congress.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Eretz Hakodesh did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
BEYACHAD: TOGETHER FOR ISRAEL
Slate Statement
We are: Russian-speaking Jewish community of the U.S., united by our love for Israel, the Jewish people, and Jewish values. Beyachad brings together diverse individuals who are passionate about Israel, Jewish education, and Jewish peoplehood. Our mission is to inspire the next generation to deepen their connection to Israel and Jewish heritage.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
Beyachad: Together for Israel did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
THE JEWISH FUTURE
Slate Statement
Since October 7, the deadliest day since the Holocaust for the Jewish people, our identities and Israel have been politicized and propagandized. Others have been speaking for, or about, us – but they miss the mark. Now is our chance to speak up, speak out, and stand up for ourselves.
The Jewish Future is in our hands – and we have the opportunity to reclaim Zionism and empower the next generation of Jews.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
The Jewish Future did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
AMERICAN FORUM FOR ISRAEL
Slate Statement
Founded in 2002, the American Forum for Israel is dedicated to advocating for Israel’s security and ensuring the representation of American Jews in the World Zionist Congress. Guided by the enduring principles of the Torah, we drive transformative policies and enhance Jewish unity across the globe, rooted in Jewish traditional values. We emphasize the importance of a united and indivisible Israel, the development of settlements, and the promotion of Aliyah to strengthen the fabric of the nation.
Responses to A Wider Bridge
American Forum for Israel did not respond to the Wider Bridge Election Guide questionnaire.
The leading international LGBTQ association, ILGA, has unilaterally suspended The Aguda, the central LGBTQ civil rights group in Israel. ILGA’s Board refused even to allow a vote on The Aguda’s proposal to host an upcoming conference in Israel. Making such proposals is a right granted to all ILGA members…except The Aguda
A Wider Bridge is petitioning ILGA member agencies to demand that ILGA reverse its ill-considered and hypocritical decision.
Together, we can take a stand against bigotry and show ILGA that diversity and solidarity are stronger than exclusion and division.
Recently, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) announced that its World Board had unilaterally suspended The Aguda – The Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel. As a leader of an ILGA member agency, we are asking you to demand this decision be reversed.
This dangerous ILGA action wrongly assigns blame to a country’s queer community for the actions of its national government.We hope that every LGBTQ organization can see the harm such a precedent poses. Excommunicating a country’s queer community is wrong.
The Aguda is similar to many ILGA member agencies. They are a grassroots, volunteer-based, nonprofit human-rights organization. They advocate for LGBTQ equality. They provide extensive assistance to LGBTQ individuals or groups. They run clinics and hotlines. Their staff and volunteers offer mental support, legal counseling, family mediation, assistance to refugees and immigrants, and help to victims of sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination. Aguda serves Jews, Christians, Muslims, Israelis, Palestinians, Druze, and others.
ILGA may also have broken its own rules by denying The Aguda the rights and processes available to all ILGA members. Further, ILGA engaged in a cynical slander by referencing “pinkwashing” in its action. That accusation devalues the hard-fought accomplishments of Israel’s LGBTQ community against considerable internal hostility. It silences the voices of those who fought hard for queer rights in Israel and those who continue the fight to protect and expand those rights.
We may have differences about issues of foreign policy. But discrimination based on nationality is wrong. Allowing this decision to stand bodes poorly for ILGA and its member agencies. Our strength as a global LGBTQ community lies in our commitment to inclusion and mutual support. Please add your organization’s voice in support of reinstating The Aguda.
Please add your name to the letter below, which is being forwarded to New York City local, state, and federal leaders.
To New York City Federal, State, and Municipal Leaders:
The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP), a 44-year-old organization founded to fight bias-related violence against LGBTQ people, receives significant public support. As a publicly-supported agency, it has a duty to care for all of New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities in the fight against violence.
There are serious issues regarding AVP’s management and attention to mission that raise profound concerns. We urge that there be an immediate investigation into AVP’s management, policies, and procedures to ensure that the public support this organization receives is being used in a way consistent with its mission and the public good.
On October 7, 2024, when people around the world marked the first anniversary of the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, AVP issued a statement expressing solidarity with Palestinians and accusing Israel of “genocide.” The statement was inflammatory, unhelpful, and reflected a callous indifference to the human suffering experienced that day and since, particularly by LGBTQ Jews in New York City.
Rising antisemitism constitutes an emergency, including in the LGBTQ community that AVP is charged with helping to keep safe. Sadly, hyperbolic rhetoric in the AVP October 7 statement, based on an extremely limited understanding of the situation in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, has only added fuel to the fire.
Recently, AVP reframed their statement. While we appreciate their newly-expressed commitment to serving their Jewish clients, they missed the mark and missed it widely.
They continued to accuse Israel of “genocide” as if that is an accepted fact, which it is not. They failed to mention Hamas by name, a glaring and seemingly purposeful omission. AVP’s assertion that they will provide all community members with the same level of empathy when there is clear bias against some – Jews and people who support Israel – is simply impossible based on a plain reading of their restatement.
Hamas militants, with avowed genocidal intent, violently murdered 1,200 innocent Israelis. Hamas militants violently raped countless women, many in front of their families and friends. Hamas militants violently kidnapped over 250 precious souls, including infants, children, elderly survivors of Holocaust-era violence, and members of the LGBTQ community. Hamas militants have subsequently murdered many of their captives. The remaining hostages are held in horrific, violent conditions.
To exclude mention of Hamas is telling. Worse, the accusation of “genocide” is precisely the kind of trigger language that an anti-violence group should know to avoid. Not naming Hamas – whose charter calls for overthrowing Israel and murdering all Jews – while including an accusation of genocide by Israel defines AVP’s stance in a way that continues to make us feel less safe. Similarly, to mention Lebanon in AVP’s restatement without acknowledging that Israelis have been bombarded by more than 10,000 rockets since October 7, 2023 from Lebanese territory by Hezbollah – an Iranian proxy allied with Hamas – does further violence to the truth and to our community.
A key reason we call for an investigation is that the staff of AVP, by clear admission in the restatement, felt they could speak out publicly on a complex global issue without board approval. We understand that the staff further refused board direction to remove the statement.
Together, the statement and restatement continue to alienate a significant constituency of LGBTQ Jews, whether AVP cares to acknowledge it or not. It strains credibility that AVP felt compelled to issue either the initial statement or the weak restatement because a segment of the community felt that this domestic service agency was not sufficiently devoting itself to a foreign policy matter – least of all one that it so minimally understands.
As members of the LGBTQ community, we know better than most the weight of being targeted and marginalized solely because of our non-majority identities. AVP must stand with all victims of hate and violence –- including those suffering from antisemitism within the LGBTQ community. And it must do so with sensitivity to all, not just some.
Something is amiss in the operation of AVP that could allow all of this to happen. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Going forward, AVP must be directed by a full board of community leaders who are dedicated to its core mission. That board must exercise control over its staff, policy, and activities, not the other way around. Until then, external oversight may be necessary to restore confidence that an investment in this agency’s necessary work furthers the public good for which AVP was chartered and has been supported in the past.
AVP Petition
Make your voice heard!
ILGA Petition
A Wider Bridge statement on ILGA World’s anti-Israel actions
We denounce the decision of the ILGA World board to suspend Israel’s leading LGBTQ organization, Aguda, from the organization and unilaterally canceling Aguda’s bid to host an upcoming ILGA conference in Tel Aviv. This is outrageous and unacceptable.
ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) supposedly stands for respect for human rights, equality and freedom regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics. But by singling out Israel and Israeli LGBTQ people for opprobrium, ILGA violates its fundamental principles.
Israeli LGBTQ organizations work tirelessly to expand LGBTQ equality – precisely what ILGA exists to do. Israel is the only country in the entire region that enjoys expansive LGBTQ rights. The organizations being harmed by this decision serve queer Israelis and Palestinians, Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
ILGA is free to take issue with the policies of the Israeli government or any other, but it should address those concerns to that government, not by shunning and excommunicating that country’s queer community. Indeed, the international community should do more to support queer and liberal voices in Israel.
ILGA’s actions reflect an appalling, and clearly antisemitic, double standard. ILGA includes member organizations from some of the most repressive regimes on Earth. Yet only Israel and its LGBTQ community are subject to condemnation. Blaming a country’s queer activists for the actions of its government is the antithesis of what ILGA should be doing to advance global LGBTQ equality.
We urge ILGA World to withdraw its discriminatory decision immediately. Please reach out to ILGA and its member organizations to demand that the ILGA World Board reverse these actions.
Please add your name to the letter below, which is being forwarded to New York City local, state, and federal leaders.
To Federal, State, and New York City Municipal Leaders:
The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP), a 44-year-old organization founded to fight bias-related violence against LGBTQ people, receives significant public support. As a publicly-supported agency, it has a duty to care for all of New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities in the fight against violence.
There are serious issues regarding AVP’s management, staffing, and attention to mission that raise profound concerns. We urge that there be an immediate investigation into how AVP operates and implements its policies, and procedures to ensure that the public support this organization receives is being used in a way consistent with its mission and the public good.
On October 7, 2024, when people around the world marked the first anniversary of the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, AVP issued a statement accusing Israel of “genocide.” The statement was inflammatory, unhelpful, and reflected a callous indifference to the human suffering experienced that day and since, particularly by LGBTQ Jews in New York City.
Rising antisemitism constitutes an emergency, including in the LGBTQ community that AVP is charged with helping to keep safe. Sadly, hyperbolic rhetoric in the AVP October 7 statement, based on an extremely limited understanding of the situation in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, has only added fuel to the fire.
Subsequently, AVP reframed their statement. While we appreciate their newly-expressed commitment to serving their Jewish clients, they missed the mark and missed it widely.
They continued to accuse Israel of “genocide” as if that is an accepted fact, which it is not. They failed to mention Hamas by name, a glaring and seemingly purposeful omission. AVP’s assertion that they will provide all community members with the same level of empathy when there is clear bias against some – Jews and people who support Israel – is simply impossible based on a plain reading of their restatement.
Hamas militants, with avowed genocidal intent, violently murdered 1,200 innocent Israelis. Hamas militants violently raped countless women, many in front of their families and friends. Hamas militants violently kidnapped over 250 precious souls, including infants, children, elderly survivors of Holocaust-era violence, and members of the LGBTQ community. Hamas militants have subsequently murdered many of their captives. The remaining hostages are held in horrific, violent conditions.
To exclude mention of Hamas is telling. Worse, the accusation of “genocide” is precisely the kind of trigger language that an anti-violence group should know to avoid. Not naming Hamas – whose charter calls for overthrowing Israel and murdering all Jews – while including an accusation of genocide by Israel defines AVP’s stance in a way that continues to make us feel less safe. Similarly, to mention Lebanon in AVP’s restatement without acknowledging that Israelis have been bombarded by more than 10,000 rockets since October 7, 2023 from Lebanese territory by Hezbollah – an Iranian proxy allied with Hamas – does further violence to the truth and to our community.
A key reason we call for an investigation is that the staff of AVP, by clear admission in the restatement, felt they could speak out publicly on a complex global issue without board approval. We understand that the staff further refused board direction to remove the statement.
Together, the statement and restatement continue to alienate a significant constituency of LGBTQ Jews, whether AVP cares to acknowledge it or not. It strains credibility that AVP felt compelled to issue either the initial statement or the weak restatement because a segment of the community felt that this domestic service agency was not sufficiently devoting itself to a foreign policy matter – least of all one that it so minimally understands.
As members of the LGBTQ community, we know better than most the weight of being targeted and marginalized solely because of our non-majority identities. AVP must stand with all victims of hate and violence –- including those suffering from antisemitism within the LGBTQ community. And it must do so with sensitivity to all, not just some.
The LGBTQ Jewish community feels attacked by the very organization that is supposed to be here to support all of us.Yet more than two weeks later, AVP remains unwilling to rectify this terrible error.
Something is amiss in the operation of AVP that could allow all of this to happen. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Going forward, AVP’s board must exercise control over its staff, policy, and activities, not the other way around. External oversight may be necessary to restore confidence that an investment in this agency’s necessary work furthers the public good for which AVP was chartered.
Please add your name to the letter below, which is being forwarded to New York City local, state, and federal leaders.
To New York City Federal, State, and Municipal Leaders:
The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP), a 44-year-old organization founded to fight bias-related violence against LGBTQ people, receives significant public support. As a publicly-supported agency, it has a duty to care for all of New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities in the fight against violence.
There are serious issues regarding AVP’s management and attention to mission that raise profound concerns. We urge that there be an immediate investigation into AVP’s management, policies, and procedures to ensure that the public support this organization receives is being used in a way consistent with its mission and the public good.
On October 7, 2024, when people around the world marked the first anniversary of the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, AVP issued a statement expressing solidarity with Palestinians and accusing Israel of “genocide.” The statement was inflammatory, unhelpful, and reflected a callous indifference to the human suffering experienced that day and since, particularly by LGBTQ Jews in New York City.
Rising antisemitism constitutes an emergency, including in the LGBTQ community that AVP is charged with helping to keep safe. Sadly, hyperbolic rhetoric in the AVP October 7 statement, based on an extremely limited understanding of the situation in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, has only added fuel to the fire.
Recently, AVP reframed their statement. While we appreciate their newly-expressed commitment to serving their Jewish clients, they missed the mark and missed it widely.
They continued to accuse Israel of “genocide” as if that is an accepted fact, which it is not. They failed to mention Hamas by name, a glaring and seemingly purposeful omission. AVP’s assertion that they will provide all community members with the same level of empathy when there is clear bias against some – Jews and people who support Israel – is simply impossible based on a plain reading of their restatement.
Hamas militants, with avowed genocidal intent, violently murdered 1,200 innocent Israelis. Hamas militants violently raped countless women, many in front of their families and friends. Hamas militants violently kidnapped over 250 precious souls, including infants, children, elderly survivors of Holocaust-era violence, and members of the LGBTQ community. Hamas militants have subsequently murdered many of their captives. The remaining hostages are held in horrific, violent conditions.
To exclude mention of Hamas is telling. Worse, the accusation of “genocide” is precisely the kind of trigger language that an anti-violence group should know to avoid. Not naming Hamas – whose charter calls for overthrowing Israel and murdering all Jews – while including an accusation of genocide by Israel defines AVP’s stance in a way that continues to make us feel less safe. Similarly, to mention Lebanon in AVP’s restatement without acknowledging that Israelis have been bombarded by more than 10,000 rockets since October 7, 2023 from Lebanese territory by Hezbollah – an Iranian proxy allied with Hamas – does further violence to the truth and to our community.
A key reason we call for an investigation is that the staff of AVP, by clear admission in the restatement, felt they could speak out publicly on a complex global issue without board approval. We understand that the staff further refused board direction to remove the statement.
Together, the statement and restatement continue to alienate a significant constituency of LGBTQ Jews, whether AVP cares to acknowledge it or not. It strains credibility that AVP felt compelled to issue either the initial statement or the weak restatement because a segment of the community felt that this domestic service agency was not sufficiently devoting itself to a foreign policy matter – least of all one that it so minimally understands.
As members of the LGBTQ community, we know better than most the weight of being targeted and marginalized solely because of our non-majority identities. AVP must stand with all victims of hate and violence –- including those suffering from antisemitism within the LGBTQ community. And it must do so with sensitivity to all, not just some.
Something is amiss in the operation of AVP that could allow all of this to happen. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Going forward, AVP must be directed by a full board of community leaders who are dedicated to its core mission. That board must exercise control over its staff, policy, and activities, not the other way around. Until then, external oversight may be necessary to restore confidence that an investment in this agency’s necessary work furthers the public good for which AVP was chartered and has been supported in the past.
AVP Petition
Make your voice heard!
AVP Petition Signup
ANTI-VIOLENCE IS ANTI-GENOCIDE
October 7, 2024 (ORIGINAL STATEMENT)
New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project Inc.
As an organization dedicated to supporting and advocating with LGBTQ+ survivors of violence, the New York City Anti-Violence Project(AVP) is deeply devastated by the ongoing genocide and human rights violations in Gaza and the Palestinian occupied territory.
To our Arab LGBTQ+ siblings and allies, we want you to know that we are here for you. Our doors remain open and accessible to all LGBTQ+ survivors and our staff and volunteers offer care and resources to ensure you have a safe space where your voices are heard and your needs are met. We at AVP stand in solidarity with all the Palestinian people in the United States and abroad, and with the people of Lebanon who are experiencing devastating escalating violence. Absolutely no one should face violence, persecution, or discrimination, based on their identity, nationality, or where they live.
AVP has, for 44 years and counting, held and channeled the grief and rage of LGBTQ+ survivors – especially QTBIPOC – of profound harm to push systemic change. Whether through counseling and advocacy services, through base building and community organizing, through comprehensive legal supports, or through coalition building, reporting and policy advocacy initiatives, AVP has sought to honor its role as mindful witness and champion of a just and kind world. We are here to hold and honor the anguish of our relatives grieving the impossible horrors of genocide in Palestine and beyond In the tradition of restorative, lasting, equitable care and healing, we acknowledge that the histories of systemic brutality have disproportionately harmed our Arab relatives, and this must be named and seen to be honestly and accountably addressed. As an organization dedicated to combating violence in all forms, we cannot move through the work without acknowledging the way war impacts the communities we at AVP serve.
October 7, 2024 marks one year since the escalation of this mass destruction and displacement of native Palestinians from their land. We acknowledge that the suffering of the Palestinian people has its roots in the Nakba of 1948, when displacement first began. For decades, Palestinians have endured ongoing apartheid, systemic oppression, forced displacement, and a denial of basic human rights, and as the largest LGBTQ+ anti-violence organization in the United States, we stand in solidarity with Palestine.
For our community members who are on the streets standing for Palestinian Liberation, we commend you for continuing to show up for a free Palestine and want to offer you these tips to stay safe during direct action.
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(ADDITIONAL STATEMENT FOLLOWED BY REVISION OF ORIGINAL)
[Updated Wednesday, October 16, 2024] – Last week, we shared a statement that intended to express solidarity to Palestinian people and underscore that our free hotline, counseling, and legal services are welcoming and accessible to Arab and Palestinian LGBTQ+ people who call New York home.
Our allies in the progressive Jewish community have helped us recognize where we lacked nuance in addressing the complexities of government actions during war and their effects on civilians. AVP stands firmly against all forms of violence and acknowledges the profound grief for both Israelis and Palestinians. We regret that our previous statement has caused harm to LGBTQ+ Jewish New Yorkers who expressed feeling unwelcome at AVP. We regret that our previous silence on this issue harmed LGBTQ+ Arab and Palestinian New Yorkers. We remain committed to providing all of our community members in crisis with the same high level of empathy and support from our staff and volunteers. AVP recognizes that the violence of October 7, 2023 caused immeasurable grief and sadness for Jewish community members, and by releasing a statement on this day AVP seemed to disregard and erase that pain. Over the past year, we have gotten questions from LGBTQ+ Arabs who felt wary of accessing services at AVP because of our silence about the ongoing genocide. We had many internal conversations about what it means to be “anti-violence” in this moment, led by a majority QTBIPOC staff and supported by our Jewish and Arab colleagues with whom we collaborate closely on hate violence prevention work in New York City. Those conversations led to the creation of our statement, which the staff posted without the knowledge or approval of the AVP Board.
In AVP’s anti-violence practice, we are steadfastly anti-genocide alongside the work we do to support individual survivors of violence. We will continue to critique violence enacted by the state and institutions – whether they be police forces or armies – and work to reduce these harms on the LGBTQ+ New Yorkers who ask for our support. The futures of our communities are all intertwined and violence against any group makes others less safe. We can hold these complexities, and we invite our extended communities to do the same.
To learn more about the statement’s methodology, inspirations, and the educational resources used, please visit our FAQ & Resources Page.
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OCTOBER 16 REVISION TO ORIGINAL OCTOBER 7 TEXT
ANTI-VIOLENCE IS ANTI-GENOCIDE
As an organization dedicated to supporting and advocating with LGBTQ+ survivors of violence, the New York City Anti-Violence Project is deeply devastated by the ongoing genocide and human rights violations in Gaza and the Palestinian occupied territory.
To our Arab LGBTQ+ siblings and allies, we want you to know that we are here for you [updated 10-16-24]and we have heard your questions about whether you will be supported at AVP. Our doors remain open and accessible to ALL LGBTQ+ survivors and our staff and volunteers offer care and resources to ensure you have a safe space where your voices are heard and your needs are met. [updated 10-16-24]We affirm our support for and welcome to our LGBTQ+ Jewish siblings who seek support through AVP’s hotline, counseling, and legal services and will continue to provide identity-affirming support and empathy to all community members.
We at AVP stand in solidarity with all the Palestinian people in the United States and abroad, and with the people of Lebanon who are experiencing devastating escalating violence. Absolutely no one should face violence, persecution, or discrimination, based on their identity, nationality, or where they live. [updated 10-16-24]State and institutional violence impacts people trying to survive in their homes no matter what their religious, cultural, or political affiliations are, and we condemn the violence of all institutional forces.
AVP has, for 44 years and counting, held and channeled the grief and rage of LGBTQ+ survivors – especially QTBIPOC – of profound harm to push systemic change. Whether through counseling and advocacy services, through base building and community organizing, through comprehensive legal supports, or through coalition building, reporting and policy advocacy initiatives, AVP has sought to honor its role as mindful witness and champion of a just and kind world. We are here to hold and honor the anguish of our relatives grieving the impossible horrors of genocide in Palestine and beyond In the tradition of restorative, lasting, equitable care and healing, we acknowledge that the histories of systemic brutality have disproportionately harmed our Arab relatives, and this must be named and seen to be honestly and accountably addressed. As an organization dedicated to combating violence in all forms, we cannot move through the work without acknowledging the way war impacts the communities we at AVP serve.
[Deletion 10-16-24**] October 7, 2024, marks one year since the escalation of this mass destruction and displacement of native Palestinians from their land. We acknowledge that the suffering of the Palestinian people has its roots in the Nakba of 1948, when displacement first began, [updated 10-16-24] and that this is the first time that AVP is making this acknowledgment. For decades, Palestinians have endured ongoing apartheid, systemic oppression, forced displacement, and a denial of basic human rights, and as the largest LGBTQ+ anti-violence organization in the United States, we stand in solidarity with Palestine.
For our community members who are on the streets standing for Palestinian Liberation, we commend you for continuing to show up for a free Palestine and want to offer you these tipsto stay safe during direct action.
**AVP recognizes that this statement is factually inaccurate.
To learn more about the statement’s methodology, inspirations, and the educational resources used, please visit our FAQ & Resources Page.
AVP was born from the understanding that we can’t aim for healing and liberation if we stay silent. There’s no room for division in the fight against fascism and systemic oppression. When violence is done to one marginalized group, it’s done to all of us. And in the same way, when any community wins liberation, it plants the seeds of freedom for everyone.
Over the past year, AVP has faced a lot of challenges, but we’ve continued to show up—to protest, to grieve, and to rage against the genocides happening around the world. We’ve been wanting to speak these words for a while, and now, we can finally say them out loud, with full hearts.
As a community that stands alongside our queer and trans Arab clients, siblings, and colleagues—and all those who are committed to this fight—we must speak out about the pain and grief we share. This pain is woven into the resilience we uplift as we survive the generational, governmental, social, and systemic harms that keep trying to break us.
If we truly believe that “Our Existence Is Resistance,” then we can’t stay silent when colonizing forces continue to harm so many across the Global South and beyond. AVP stands in full solidarity with Palestine, and we will continue to amplify this call for justice.
For the last year we have discussed how to address what has escalated in Palestine/Israel, and during this time we have faced criticism from our Arab and Jewish allies, staff, and community at large regarding a lack of a statement as an anti-violence organization.
It goes without saying that we support peace and safety for all civilians in any and every region facing conflict, however, pinkwashing and propaganda used to marginalize and silence innocent Palestinians is counter to the morals of an organization fighting for the freedom and safety of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. and around the world. Inclusivity and empathy should not be conditional when innocent people are being harmed and killed, no matter their color, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or where they are in the world.
Why now?
AVP has always stood for the belief that we can’t strive for healing and liberation in silence. However, we acknowledge that for too long, we have been silent about the ongoing genocide of Palestinians. This silence has caused harm to the communities we serve and represent, especially our queer and trans Arab siblings, colleagues, and clients who have been directly impacted by the violence. We failed to speak out sooner, and for that, we are truly sorry.
There is no excuse for our delay in addressing this critical issue. We didn’t need to wait until someone we know personally was attacked to take a stand. Genocide, colonization, and violence against marginalized people anywhere in the world should have always been enough for us to act.
The power struggles we witness every day—whether through police violence in New York City or the brutal military occupation in Palestine—are interconnected. The NYPD’s mirroring of tactics of surveillance, racial profiling, and violence against Black and brown communities from the Israeli Defense Forces is not a coincidence: the NYPD (and many other police departments) receives training from the IDF. Both systems are part of a global web of state-sponsored violence that aims to control, silence, and erase marginalized people.
We fully endorse a ceasefire and an arms embargo. AVP stands in support of an immediate ceasefire in Palestine and calls for an end to the military funding and support that fuel this ongoing violence. Just as we demand an end to state violence here in the U.S., we demand an end to the occupation and apartheid in Palestine. The oppressive systems of power that harm marginalized communities in Palestine are deeply connected to those that harm people here in the United States.
We commit to amplifying the voices of those impacted by these atrocities and holding ourselves accountable to the values of anti-oppression and liberation that AVP was founded on.
You’re not an anti-war organization, why are you writing about this?
To be anti-violence implies to be anti-war, and to be anti-genocide is not anti-semitic. To side with healing, health, love, freedom, liberation, interdependence, mutuality, fairness, color and vibrancy necessitates that we at AVP cannot stand by while intergenerational traumas continue to be inflicted by systems of power that mobilize their privileges to oppress those that they can.
We Serve & Stand Up For Peace
We do not withhold services fromANYONE in crisis. A statement of solidarity for an end to violence is just that. When we issued a statement about George Floyd and Black Lives Matter in 2020, that was not made in exclusion of any non-black life, it was the specific matter at hand, just as our statement about #StopAsianHate was. Calling for a stop to the killing of innocent Palestinians is not and should not be conflated with prejudice and wishing harm towards Jewish people as individuals and as a community at large, whether one identifies as Zionist or not. As the Anti-Violence Project, our foundational beliefs are in our name, and not doing the bare minimum of making a statement regarding a conflict that directly impacts the communities we serve, our Arab and Jewish staff who provide these services, and allies who believe in our mission of ending all violence, it would be irresponsible to continue to observe in silence.
Breaking Bread, Building Bonds
In 2023, AVP hosted ‘Breaking Bread, Building Bonds,’ a roundtable to hold an intentional and collaborative space to discuss how hate shows up in our different and intersecting communities, and to continue working towards addressing the root causes of violence, and building towards a future where all our communities are safe and thriving.
A Wider Bridge statement on the Anti-Violence Project (AVP)’s Recent Anti-Israel Statement
A Wider Bridge is disheartened to learn that the New York Anti-Violence Project (AVP)- a forty-year-old organization founded to fight bias-related violence, particularly against LGBTQ people- has chosen to prioritize the voices of an extremist minority over the needs and concerns of New York’s broader Queer population.
That they chose to post their statement on October 7- the one-year anniversary of the worst anti-Jewish carnage since the Holocaust- is even more troubling.
This raises critical questions about AVP’s priorities, particularly in light of the events of October 7th- when Hamas- a terrorist organization with avowed genocidal intent- attacked, raped and murdered 1,200 Israelis, and kidnapped hundreds more. If AVP truly champions anti-violence as a stance against genocide, why was there no robust statement on October 7, 2023 in response to these atrocities?
Antisemitism is rising dramatically. Queer Jews face pervasive violence in New York City. AVP’s statement deepens our fear by normalizing the hyperbolic and harmful rhetoric that has been used to bring us harm.
AVP must stand with all victims of hate and violence, including those suffering from antisemitism within the LGBTQ community, and they should say so publicly. Instead, they have chosen to embrace a one-sided narrative that demonizes and antagonizes any potential donor or client who is Jewish or supports Israel.
We urge AVP to reflect on its commitments to the whole community rather than allowing its voice to be co-opted by a narrow, uninformed agenda that ultimately harms many of the very populations in professes to protect.
We demand that this statement be retracted, and an apology issues to AVP’s constituents- especially LGBTQ Jews and supporters of Israel.
Let AVP know what you think. Contact Executive Director Audacia Ray at aray@avp.org.
While anti-Semitism in the world has been rampant since October 7 and conservative parties that oppose LGBT people are gaining momentum, some are stuck between a rock and a hard place – those who were born as both – Jews and LGBT people. In the USA, Europe, Latin America, and all over the world – LGBT Jewish activists are fighting for recognition, inclusion and security – for both the Jewish and the LGBT community
Usually, for hundreds of thousands of LGBT Jews around the world, Pride Month is an annual peak event, a time of self-expression, of completion and a sense of belonging. An opportunity to turn to the world and say: I’m Jewish, I’m LGBT, accept me as I am. But this year, in the shadow of the war and the disturbing increase in anti-Semitism specifically in the liberal groups, this important month was especially scary.
America, the “Golden Medina”, which was considered for decades the safe haven for diaspora Jews – has become a scary place for LGBT Jews. In a country where 11 percent of Jews define themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, it seems that the environment is no longer as safe as it used to be.
“We’re all afraid of the situation,” says Ethan Felson, Executive Director of A Wider Bridge, one of the largest LGBT Jewish organizations in the US, when I asked him about violence against LGBT Jews after October 7. But he does not intend to surrender: “We proudly marched in parades, because no one can take away our Pride. They tried and failed. True, there were people who mocked Jews and supporters of Israel at Pride events, just like they did on college campuses. This is a campaign aimed to intimidate LGBT Jews. There is anti-Semitism is embedded in it, but we didn’t let them win.”
According to Felson, contrary to the images seen in Israel, the increase in anti-Zionism and antisemitism in the American gay community is no different from what is seen in the rest of the American population: “LGBT leaders in more than 100 cities supported our fight against anti-Semitism in the queer community. There is an increase in anti-Semitism in many sectors, and it impacts LGBTQ people too. But as a community, LGBTQ people reject the notion of Jews as ‘oppressors’ the same as non-LGBTQ people reject it. Although LGBT people belong more to the progressive camp, they don’t associate ‘oppression’ specifically with Jews, and neither does the general public. However, there is the minority of anti-Israel activists in the gay community, and they make noise.”
Felson explains that the strength of this group is actually its size: “One of the most powerful tactics in public relations is that of the “surprising validator.” When support for Hamas comes from queer groups, it is implied that the gay community is anti-Israel – which it is not. It’s a fringe, but because it comes from within the progressive camp, it is a very powerful voice.”
How do you explain the pictures of Queers for Palestine?
“Do you know the term cosplay? (People who dress up as characters from anime series – OC). It’s a Keffiyeh-cosplay. It is part of the rise in antisemitism. And it is magnified by the normalization of the the use of the term ‘Zionism’ as a pejorative. This is one of the biggest challenges since October 7 – the replacement of Jews with ‘Zionsists’, and the use of ‘Zionsists’ as a ‘safe’ way to insult Jews. You are not considered antisemitic if you use ‘Zionsists’ instead of ‘Jews.’ This is pervasive on the left in America today. The LGBT community is a few clicks to the left of the non-LGBT community, so we feel it a little more.”
In addition, according to Felson, the (Israeli) government has an influence on this narrative: “We have heard from many LGBT leaders in America that government ministers who oppose the LGBT community have tarnished Israel’s reputation as a safe place for the gay community. It is difficult for them to separate this from their understanding of the State of Israel as a whole.”
Felson points to an anomaly in American society: precisely when the gay community in the US is in danger, the handful of noisy activists focus on Israel: “In a year with more transphobic legislation than we’ve ever seen – they’re busy supporting those who support throwing LGBT people off rooftops. Where would you rather go to a gay rooftop partyTel Aviv, or Gaza?”.
Did you receive specific threats?
We have heard from many people who received hateful comments. An organizer of a large LGBT event was attacked online because he’s a Zionist. People have used a language of hate. In Pride events this year, there were signs like “no pride in genocide”, shirts that said “stop settler colonialism”. But it’s not just that: this Pride month we had to worry about foreign terrorist organizations and their supporters bringing harm to Pride – along with lone wolves. (The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a warning about this.) There are enough people who want to take our Pride away.
However, Felson points to a bright spot: the support from the Jewish community. “We’ve had amazing support. For example, numerous organizations – including the Conference of Presidents, Jewish Federations of North America, the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League – and many others forwarded a letter with our concerns and requests to Congress calling for security for LGBT Jews.”
Partial security
But not all Jewish communities support LGBT Jews to the same extent. Ariel Heller, a 28-year-old young man from Rome, is a member of the board of directors of Keshet, Italy’s LGBT Jewish organization. “When we asked for help from the Orthodox Jewish community, because it is the largest in Rome – they did not want to help us. It is not a law, but there is a practice that when there is a Jewish protest in the city – it will receive security, because it is a Jewish protest. They said they would not provide us security, because it took place on the Sabbath “.
As Ariel describes, there was definitely a need for security: “Since October 7, we have all noticed an increase in anti-Semitism, especially in the queer community. Organizations in Europe have issued all kinds of statements about the situation in Gaza, even though they have no authority to speak about an 80-year conflict. They issue political statements that use the language which not only has an anti-Zionist flavor, but actually says things that fall within the IHRA definitions of anti-Semitism” (The IHRA definition of anti-Semitism states that certain expressions directed against Israel – when it is perceived as a Jewish collective, or when the criticism of it is not similar to that directed at other countries in similar situations – can be considered anti-Semitism ).
“This leads us to the last pride month – after we were betrayed by a part of our community, many decided not to march in the parade. It was far too dangerous for us. We will not leave the gay movement, we can’t, we are part of it. Some of us were there, in the parades – But we had to leave a part of our identity aside. Those of us who marched did not go with flags and Jewish symbols. Why did they even ask us to bring Israeli flags? From those who bring Palestinian flags – this is anti-Semitic rhetoric.”
Ariel even says that he is considering leaving his job at the LGBT organization due to the anti-Semitism he experienced. “I am very angry. I’m about to cry, really. During Pride month they called me a Nazi, they called me a fascist, they called me a Zionist – when they don’t even know what a Zionist is. But they certainly know what a Nazi is – and call me that on purpose. It’s totally crazy. I started going to a psychologist after October 7th because I felt personally attacked by my community. Every day I am personally attacked for Israel in our community, as if I have something to do – they tell me to call Netanyahu and tell him to stop the war. Why don’t you call Sinwar?”
Still, something doesn’t make sense in a situation where the group that is supposed to be the most liberal actually goes against the Jews and Zionism. Dalia Greenfeld, the director of the European division of the Anti-Defamation League and a Jewish-LGBT activist from Germany, explains: “Anti-Semitism exists in society as a whole, and also in progressive communities. But since October 7, opposition to Zionism has erupted in liberal spaces, especially in queer ones. Many of them see Israelis as ‘white colonialists’ – even before that Jews were rejected from queer spaces, they were told they were not welcome there. When you look at the data, in Germany specifically, many LGBT organizations did not come out with statements of support for Israel after October 7 – the queer community did not make anything important out of it. Many queer organizations supported anti-Zionist statements.”
What makes them think of Zionists as colonialists?
“Every activist group needs a common enemy. The common enemy in the progressive community has become Israel. Israel is seen as a colonialist project, and the progressive ideology is to fight white supremacy, colonialism, and Israel falsely falls into these categories. This is a false narrative. To be an active member of these progressive spaces, you must be anti-Zionist – it’s hard to be a member of a progressive space if you’re a Zionist, it’s very difficult, even impossible. It only became more radical on October 7.”
The complexity that LGBT Jews face this year is global. Even in South America, as is evident from the words of Yael Frieda Gutman, a non-binary from the field of comedy, drag and the performing arts, the anti-Semitism towards Jewish queers in the gay community rears its head: “All my friends began to feel very scared Until October 7, I used to say everywhere that I was Jewish, without fear, and everywhere they would ask – ‘What about Palestine?’ Today it is more difficult for me to say that I am Jewish. I am afraid that they will know. I think that people have no knowledge of what happened in Israel, and the feeling that there is a Palestinian flag everywhere is not nice. I go to every protest or pride parade. This year was the first time I saw a woman with a veil in the parades. There was a woman there who was completely covered in a veil and body coverings, with a Palestinian flag, and this was the first time I was really afraid – what is going on here? People don’t usually wear head coverings in Argentina. I believe that it is dangerous for us to have women dressed like that. Body expression is a very important thing. It’s a tradition that doesn’t allow you to see the body, the body is censored.”
How will they react if you go to the parade with a pride flag and the Star of David?
“I don’t know. I won’t feel rejected. But everyone will ask me why I’m not with the Palestinian flag. Here in the LGBT community we have many Jews – but it’s not something that is welcomed, to express Zionism. At the moment, for me, LGBTI and Zionism collide – here they are talking loudly about the ‘genocide of the Palestinian people’ after October 7. I feel that it is a problem to express my Judaism, that I do not have the freedom to express my Zionism. I do not feel. sure. We do it”.
And how is it that they do not address the fact that Israel is actually very pro-LGBT?
“I think that there is not much knowledge here about how important the LGBT issue is in Israel. I think it’s not something that’s talked about. They don’t understand what’s happening in the Middle East.”
This Passover, we join the global Jewish community in seeking and working for peace and freedom.
As we prepare to taste the Bread of Affliction, these modern plagues are in our minds: 1. Fear 2. Silence 3. Hostage-Taking 4. Scapegoating 5. Gaslighting 6. Hatred 7. Discrimination 8. Violence 9. Rockets 10. Regional War
L’shana haba’ah b’Yerushalim — next year in Jerusalem.
ANTI-VIOLENCE IS ANTI-GENOCIDE 
