The Answer to Homophobia and Racism: Equality!

03/08/18

Imagine for a moment a state that provides equal treatment to every resident and every citizen. That is how each and every one of us wants to live, but under the radical right-wing government of Netanyahu, the reality is painfully different. In the last hours of the Knesset summer session, the government made it clear to all of us that it cares only about class A citizens. All the rest – Arab citizens, members of the LGBTQ community, and even conservative rabbis, are considered second class and not worthy of protection.

The current government, the most right-wing in Israel’s history, launched an offense against anyone who doesn’t meet the criteria of the rabbinic establishment or the radical right.

But we did not give up.

Over 5,500 of our activists joined in the call for equal rights for the LGBTQ community. Thousands more petitioned against the Nation-State Law, and thanks to donations from over 250 Zazim activists, we covered Jerusalem with posters ahead of the Pride Parade bearing messages in Hebrew and Arabic for equality.

Some of our posters got torn down, but we did not give up – we hung new posters and made sure that our message was heard on the street.

From the racist Nation-State Law to the discriminatory legislation and incitement by the radical right against the Pride Parade in Jerusalem, the voice of our community is needed more than ever. Together with you, we will continue working for justice and equality – so we all can have a better future.