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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.

To learn more, see the A Wider Bridge statement here.

SIGN THE A WIDER BRIDGE PETITION NOW

Dear ILGA Member Agency Leader:

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. 

 

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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.

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On October 7, 2023, the terrorist group Hamas launched an attack on the State of Israel and the Jewish people. This attack resulted in the brutal murders of over 1,400 Israelis—including Holocaust survivors and children—the kidnapping and hostage-taking of at least 200 more, and the tragic deaths of countless innocent Palestinians whose evacuation has been prevented by Hamas.
Antisemitism, homophobia, and transphobia travel together. As LGBTQ and Allied Americans, we know what it is like to have violent extremists attempt to target and kill us for who we are and who we love. Further, we know all too well what it is like to realize that people we had counted on to speak with a voice of moral courage are silent in the face of our destruction. We have searched our own hearts these last weeks when murmurs of, “it’s complicated,” have sounded an all too familiar alarm. Painfully, we have even seen some blame Jews for the violence they’ve suffered.
We will not be silent.
The murder of any innocents is never justifiable. While we recognize that people of good will may disagree with the elected Israeli government, we are not called to solve the issue of sovereignty—although we support it for both Israelis and Palestinians. It is absolutely imperative that as LGBTQ and allied Americans, we unequivocally condemn the brutal attacks of Hamas. 
We ask you to join us now in our grief for all the innocent lives lost, and for the hostages still being held. We ask you to join us in our conviction that the State of Israel has a right to exist and reaffirm that the Jewish people deserve a homeland where they can live freely; and that the Palestinian people must no longer be exploited and deserve legitimate self-government in their own nation.
LGBTQ and allied Americans know that any group dedicated to hate is an existential threat to all marginalized people. Stand with us on the right side of history today. Stand with us for justice, fairness, and equality for all people.

Add Your Name Today. Thank you.

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We Stand in Solidarity

Published first at Washington Blade

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Most mornings, we wake from our dreams. But on Oct. 7, Israelis and all who support them awoke to a nightmare. Hamas, the terror group that rules the Gaza Strip, viciously attacked Israel by land, sea and air, on the Sabbath and a Jewish holiday. Hundreds of Israelis have been murdered, thousands more are injured, and many others have been taken hostage. This horrifying act of violence is personal to all Israelis, and to many other Americans, including me.

The very real issues that have caused division recently seem distant today — and even trivial — while our friends in Israel are locked in safe rooms, listening to sirens blaring and rockets exploding overhead.

Hamas’s attack was brutal, calculated and designed to inflict the maximum physical harm to the maximum number of innocent civilians. There is devastating emotional harm to ordinary Israelis. Hamas murdered elderly people in the street. They pulled families from their homes, including young children, and are keeping them hostage. They paraded young people and the elderly, dead and alive, through the streets of Gaza. The echoes of the past are deafening.

Dear friends of ours are in deep trauma right now. Funerals are happening. The injured are suffering. We are all distraught with worry about those who have been abducted. Their pictures fill our social media feed.

Please hear the pain that our friends and family are experiencing. And do something.

Many of us have condemned atrocities in Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Iran and elsewhere. We have taken action, lobbied and posted our opinions online. While this may feel like just another hopeless horror in the world, please don’t be silent now. This is not a “both sides” situation.

Whatever the grievances of Israel’s Palestinian neighbors, this is an unprovoked act of war that will cause boundless suffering and devastation to everyone involved. There is no calculation by which this terror brings us any closer to peace or justice.

Sadly, this type of escalation and violence isn’t new. Since its founding, Israel has never known a day without threats to its very existence.

I know that many around the world look at Israel as a powerful player. Those who know Israelis well, and I hope every reader has had the opportunity to know some Israelis, recognize a different calculus. Israelis may be grateful for military strength, but they’ve always known that very powerful forces are aligned against it. Israelis feel that keenly right now. And those who connect with Israel, who have visited, or have friends and family there feel that now as well.

Your voice matters — on social media, in articles and op-eds and in your everyday conversations. Many people who are close to Israel feel isolated and unsafe, including in the LGBTQ community.

I can just imagine the pain that college students must be feeling on campuses where their connection to Israel is used against them. The country they love, and perhaps loved ones who live there, are under attack. Will they feel safe to share their pain without inviting harm from others? Can they come to queer spaces to find support? I am thinking in particular about what happened recently at Rice University. The leading LGBTQ group there decided to boycott the school’s leading Jewish group. Rice PRIDE falsely branded Hillel International as hostile to Palestinians — and singled out the main Jewish group on campus, Rice Hillel, for a boycott. In effect, Rice PRIDE was acting out a version of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, using LGBTQ Jewish students as a proxy to demonstrate opposition to the Israeli government.

This discriminatory act, like many others on other campuses and across parts of the LGBTQ community, leaves LGBTQ Jews feeling they have to choose between their LGBTQ and their Jewish identities — especially since national identity and connection to Israel is so deeply woven into how many Jews experience our faith. Imagine the isolation they feel on that campus, having once had a close partnership between the Pride and Hillel groups. Now imagine this against the rising tide of antisemitism and LGBTQphobia in our broader society.

It’s a daunting situation for these students, made even more acute and devastating after this latest outbreak of violence in Israel.

Imagine instead how those same students and other LGBTQ Jews might feel knowing that there are LGBTQ people who stand with them? That the LGBTQ community recognizes that it is wrong to ask people to put a core part of their identity into a closet in order to be accepted for another part of their identity? None of us should be forced to choose like that.

Much of what happens around the world can feel out of our control, and it’s easy to feel like our actions can’t possibly make a difference. Now is the time to put one foot in front of the other and take action on the things we can change. Standing in solidarity with LGBTQ Jews is one concrete action we all can take together.

May the coming days bring peace, justice, and understanding to Israel, the region, and all of us around the world as we deal with this violent and dangerous moment.

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Ethan Felson is the executive director of A Wider Bridge, an organization that builds a strong relationship between the LGBTQ communities in North America and Israel, advances LGBTQ inclusion in Israel, advocates for justice, counters LGBTQphobia and fights antisemitism and other forms of hatred.

The past week has been more harrowing than words can express. Hamas terrorists, together with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, attacked Israel. They murdered more than 1,200 people, injured thousands, and subjected young and old to torture, rape, and abduction. Israelis, living in fear, are coming together to care for and protect one another. We must do the same.

We know you may be looking for ways to help. Here are several things you can do to support Israel, its LGBTQ community, and all those who love Israel.

1. Connect:

Call, text, WhatsApp, and email your Israeli friends, including people you’ve met through A Wider Bridge. Let them know that they’re in your hearts. Recognize that they may be overwhelmed and may not be able to respond right away, but know that the messages you send make a difference.

2. Stay Informed:

Look to credible domestic and Israeli sources, including English-language Israeli media like Ha’aretz, Times of Israel and Ynet. Listen to updates, including the emergency briefing AWB held with our friend Nurit Shein, former chair of The Aguda.  

3. Speak out:

Your voice needs to be heard on social media and beyond. Words from the heart can be a great comfort to people in pain, even those you don’t even know. They say, “you’re not alone, we stand with you, we get it.”
You can use our AWB portal to share a message to the Israeli LGBTQ community – we will make sure they receive it.


4. Reach Out:

The AWB staff is here to listen and hold space for you to share what you’re thinking and feeling. Write us, message us, call us, and we’ll respond. We can provide information, connect you with Israeli LGBTQ groups, or just provide a space for you to be your authentic self. If you’re looking for ways to do more, we’d be happy to brainstorm with you. We can also help if you’d like to write an op-ed, get speakers for your community, etc.

 

5. Donate:

A Wider Bridge is accepting contributions that we will share in their entirety with Israeli LGBTQ organizations responding to the needs of LGBTQ Israelis during this time of crisis – helping to house the displaced, providing hotlines, emotional support, mental health counseling, caring for the injured, and supporting one another in every possible way.

DONATE NOW!
Most mornings, we wake from our dreams. On Saturday, Israelis and all who support them woke to a nightmare. 

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Hamas, the terror group that rules the Gaza Strip, has viciously attacked Israel. Their unprecedented surprise attack came by land, sea, and air, on a Jewish holiday that also fell on the Sabbath. As of this writing, over 1400 Israelis have been murdered and more than 2,000 injured. 200 civilians were taken hostage. Thousands of rockets have been fired indiscriminately, targeting and harming civilians. Islamic Jihad has joined the fighting. Israelis are being subjected to war crimes. They are living in fear and hiding in safe rooms. Reservists have been called up. Many of us have friends and family in the Israel Defense Force. They are all in our prayers. 

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We know that you have questions about this current situation and what it means for Israel’s LGBTQ community. We are here to hold space for you, and try to provide some answers in these uncertain times.

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Watch the Emergency Briefing featuring Nurit Shen, Former Chair of The Aguda, as she addresses the ongoing Hamas assault on Israel. Gain insights into the present state of affairs and understand its impact on Israeli society, particularly within the LGBTQ Community.

 

Israeli LGBTQ community, LGBTQphobia
Strengthening our support for the Israeli LGBTQ Community in these trying times is our prime mission. Please join us for a special online event during Trans Visibility Week as we host an inspiring conversation with two remarkable Jewish mothers who have been unwavering advocates for their beloved transgender kids. Discover how the war impacted their lives and their families, and how they are coping with these difficult times.
Mindy Levine has won two court cases to let her 8-year-old child Roee, who has identified as a boy from a very young age, remain in a religious school despite other parents’ objections.
Kate, AKA “Transister Mom,” has recently authored the book, “Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender Bending World.” Her journey of raising twins, one cisgender and one transgender, offers profound insights into the complexities and joys of parenting in a diverse and evolving world.
During their conversation, Mindy and Kate will share their personal experiences, shedding light on what it means to support their children’s journeys wholeheartedly. They will also discuss their hopes and aspirations for allies, emphasizing the importance of supporting transgender children not just during Trans Visibility Week, but every week of the year.

 

Sign up today!

Avi Maoz currently holds the position of Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s office and oversees the “Jewish Identity Authority,” where he has taken a stance against the LGBTQ community. He is labeled as misogynist, LGBTQphobic, and racist.
Two weeks ago, Hoshen, the Israeli LGBTQ organization for education, launched Israel’s most extensive online tolerance library in Avi Maoz’s name, making rich educational resources accessible to educators of all backgrounds. Now, typing avimaoz.co.il leads to this site, which aims to foster a more tolerant and inclusive Israeli educational system.
Mor Nahari, CEO of Hoshen, said, “The name of the site started as trolling, as a gimmick. I told myself that it would help the site reach more educators and parents. But very quickly, it became the answer to everything I felt in the last months. It became a sign for me that even in the face of the greatest embodiment of despair, we have something to do. It’s easy to succumb to feelings of helplessness and doubt about the impact of our actions. However, this website, which became viral immediately, has reignited the flame of passion and determination to continue the fight for tolerance and inclusivity.”
While Avi Maoz may propagate hate, Hoshen is using his name as a symbol to reach communities across the country and spread love. Thank you, Hoshen, for your invaluable contributions. Please explore their new online library, and stay tuned for English translations of their workshops in the near future.
To learn more about the work of the Israeli LGBTQ Organizations, click here
Want to travel to Israel – at least virtually? Curious to know what Israeli LGBTQ activists and NGOs are doing to fight further anti-democratic legislation? Wondering how they are working to minimize damage from a recently enacted law that weakens Israel’s judiciary?
Our Virtual Conference will take a deep, balanced, sophisticated look at the current state of the Israeli LGBTQ community and enable participants to connect with LGBTQ leaders in Israel.


September 12-14, 12:00-2:30 pm ET 

The virtual conference will include sessions on topics like: 
  • The government’s judicial overhaul efforts, with a debrief by LGBTQ activists who are on the front lines of protests
  • Acceptance of LGBTQ people in religious Jewish and Muslim communities
  • Advancing trans rights and trans inclusion
  • A look at how American political transphobia is being exported to Israel

 

There is no cost to attend this conference thanks to the generosity of our donors. After the virtual conference, you will receive a conference kit with fun swag as a token of our appreciation for your time at our conference.

Space is limited.

Rabbi Zvi Israel Tau, the spiritual leader of Noam party, called this morning for a war against the LGBTQ community. In a new book that compiles lessons he gave his students at the Har Hamor yeshiva, Rabbi Tau claims that homosexuality is a crime against humanity that threatens to destroy Judaism and the State of Israel.
The Aguda has filed a complaint against Rabbi Tau and wrote: “We will not allow them “Lehatir Et Damenu” (permissible killing). The masks have been removed, this is the vision of the extreme parties in the Knesset, written in black and white: to wipe us out. This is the spiritual father of Avi Maoz, who serves in the Israeli government as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, with budgets of hundreds of millions of shekels.”
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We stand with the Israeli LGBTQ community and their fight against LGBTQphobia.
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