Gay ex-IDF soldier Hen Mazzig spoke about his life, his family, and his army service at the University of Central Florida During the spring of 2017, CAMERA sponsored ex-IDF soldier Hen Mazzig to speak on 17 college campuses. On one of his last stops was the University of Central Florida where Knights for Israel hosted […]
Blue and White Pride is a new group that seeks to counter growing resistance to LGBT people and women in the Israel Defense Forces. A Wider Bridge’s Leadership Mission alum Michael K. Lavers had the chance to speak with Omer Nahmany, the group’s founder, late last month. Omer Nahmany, first from left, is the founder […]
Lt. Shachar became the first enlisted Israeli solider to medically transition from female to male. Because Israeli law requires health insurance to cover transgender medical needs, his military insurance covered the costs of his hormone therapy and surgeries. When Israel’s first out transgender soldier was making plans to enlist in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) […]
Lt. Shachar Erez, the first (known) transgender officer in the Israeli military, is using his personal story to preach acceptance on a tour of the U.S. Coming out as transgender can be difficult to do even once — Shachar Erez did it twice. First, when he was 16 years old. But then he joined the […]
Former Israel Defense Forces commander Hen Mazzig delivered a lecture to students of the University of Connecticut about the struggles of being openly gay in the Middle East. Hillel and Huskies for Israel hosted speaker and LGBT activist Hen Mazzig to discuss his experiences as a member of the LGBT community in the Israel Defense […]
Shahaf Ben-Yakov, a female combat soldier, is part of Pride Blue and White, a new group of women and LGBT officers that aims to speak out for diversity within the Israeli army and push back against growing religious influence on the powerful Israeli institution. Shahaf Ben-Yakov (Courtesy of Pride in Blue and White) Shahaf Ben-Yakov […]
Haaretz Editorial: Last summer Rabbi Yigal Levinstein slammed the military for the tolerance it demonstrates toward the gay community, whose members he called ‘perverts.’ Last week he vilified the recruitment of young Orthodox Jewish women. An individual who holds such chauvinistic views cannot be part of a system that prepares thousands of religious youths for […]
Omer Nahmany was interviewed Monday by ILTV.tv about his new project “Pride x2 to Israel” and the Pride Blue and White movement. In the face of growing attempts by anti-liberal forces to stop integration of women, members of the LGBT community, and minorities into the military, Pride Blue and White believes in strengthening the social […]
As the world marks International Women’s Day, whose theme this year focuses on “women in the changing world of work”, the Israeli military says it is ahead of the curve in providing combat roles for female soldiers. Not far from the Syrian border, two Israeli soldiers – a man and a woman – faced off […]
Blue and White Pride‘s new project “Pride x2 to Israel” has been criticized during its opening event and after, by LGBT people who disagree about the role of the Israeli army. Omer Nahmany, the project’s Executive Director, addresses the criticism, saying that the project is not about the political role of the army, but about […]