In Israel, LGBTI organisations and allies came together for two events in Jerusalem, as well as two events in Tel Aviv and a radio interview to mark the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014, amongst other highlights.

Jerusalem

Coordinated by Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, there were two events planned prior to May 17 in commemoration of IDAHOT that were linked to the topic of freedom of speech. One was “Pride Shabbes” which took place on the 5-6th of May and is a joint pride event with a local Jewish congregation. The second was a LGBTQ week that has been organised at the Hebrew University on 14-15th of May.

The Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance (JOH) is an LGBTQ organisation based in Jerusalem. They provide direct services to LGBTQ people in the community and the area. For more details about the organisation, please visit their website.

Tel Aviv: Knowledge is Power!

Once again, for IDAHOT 2014, LGBTI communities and allies came together in Tel Aviv for the award of the prize of Outstanding academic or research paper on LGBTI-phobia. This event was supported by long standing organisers of IDAHOT events in Israel, Havana.

The programme also included discussions and panels on masculinity, health resources, working with high school students, as well as presentations on gender fluidity and trans communities. You can find the academic papers on the Havana website.

The event took place on May 15 at the School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University.

Knowledge Is Power, Tel Aviv. Source: Havana

The full programme was as follows:

15:30 / Registration
16:00 / Prof. Bilha Davidson-Arad – Head of the School of Social Work
Yadin Sapir – One of the organizers of the International Day Against LGBT-phobia in Israel
Yali Ben-Ami Vitenberg, Hoshen CEO
Dr. Gill Fishof- Coordinator of the Aguda’s Nir Katz Center Against LGBT-phobia
16:15 – 17:10 / Opening Lectures
Dr. Amit Kama – Outline of the LGBT Research Field in Israel
Uri Eick – Changing Attitudes of High School Students in Israel towards Homosexuality

Knowledge Is Power, Tel Aviv. Source: Havana

The LGBT Club of Tel Aviv University invited the Seminar participants to a social continuation at the pub ‘Rosh Pina” in Brodetzki Center, Ramat Aviv.

Youth movements rally to mark IDAHOT – International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Israel

The event took place on Thursday, May 22, 2014, and was hosted by Youth Movements in Israel – IGY (the Israel Gay Youth), The Scout Movement, Hamahanot Haolim, The Youth Guard, and The Federation of Working and Studying Youth. It included a dialogue between youth organizations and movements and the main ceremony of the Gay Youth Council. Professor Yuli Tamir, former Education Minister and current president of Shenkar College, attended the event, as well.

Tel Aviv University promo videos:

Radio Interview

Additionally, May 16 in Israel also saw a radio interview, in English with Yali Kelrich (one of leading co-organizers of Havana this year), about the battle against discrimination towards LGBTI communities.

The interview was on TLV1 station, which is an English-language internet radio broadcasting from Tel Aviv. Founded in 2013, TLV1 seeks to provide listeners with a fresh and novel perspective on the daily agenda in Israel and its neighbors, and keeps its finger on the beating pulse of Tel Aviv. The interview was part of the show “Where cultures meet – Weekend Edition”.

You can find the interview here at 104 minutes in.

IDAHO or ‘Havana’ has been held in Israel since 2006, under the name HAVANA (הבנ”ה) which is the abbreviation for IDAHO in Hebrew, and also means “Understanding”. A complete lists of events for this year is available online on the havana.org site in English and Hebrew.

They included an artistic program with a theatrical performance, the screening of world clips dealing with the struggle against homophobia and transphobia, an award to the outstanding community volunteer and an award of recognition as “Yekir Hakehila” in which Naomi Hernik and Zoharit Sorek were named as the 2012 laureates.

In Tel Aviv – Jaffa, “Homophobia, transphobia – Not in our house”: The Moran Zafrir seminar included lectures about homophobia and transphobia and the challenges faced in the education system, and workshops on how to deal with the phenomenon.

Other events included:

Tel Aviv – Jaffa, The Struggle in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) for the rights of LGBT: A panel on the subject “The Fight in the Knesset against homophobia and transphobia, and for equal rights for LGBT”.

Explanation Stands of the IDAHO in which flyers, stickers and pins were distributed to heighten awareness in commemoration of IDAHO. Stands were manned in Tel Aviv, two in Beer Sheva and at the Tel Hai College.

A seminar on “Homophobia among the Youth” at Tel Aviv University conducted by “Hoshen” – the eEducation arm of the LGBT community -– in conjunction with the Herzlia Council. The seminar dealt with various expressions of homophobia, and patience and recognition of the variance of sexual orientations and gender identities in Israeli society.

A “I also am Gay Friendly” group youth project: A new youth group called the “National Youth Council for LGBTs” began a campaign among Israeli youth to identify with IDAHO. During the campaign, members of the group photographed many youth holding placards bearing the words “I also am Gay Friendly” and “Down with Homophobia”. In addition, the group produced a home movie entitled “Am I forbidden to be a Homo?”

A roving exhibition entitled “This is My Story” which was an exhibition of photographs depicting “Hoshen” volunteers in intimate and private moments.

An educational meeting of youth in Haifa in which the youth movement group “Machanot Haolim” for the second year held an educational gathering of youth on the struggle against homophobia.

Issues regarding the medical treatment and health of transgender people was held at Tel Aviv University, entitled “Space of Our Own” and featuring a panel discussion.