The Crazy Lie of "Pinkwashing" and the Liberal Case for Israel

[King_David]

Israel has for decades boasted a proud, open, and vibrant LGBT culture. The Jewish State is a remarkable environment for gay and lesbian people of any nationality to vacation, live, raise a family and walk down the street -- hand in hand -- without fear of reprisal, harassment or violence.

Its largest city, Tel Aviv, regularly is recognized as one of the greatest places in the world for gay and lesbian people to live, and is considered internationally as one of the most gay-friendly tourist destinations. A 2011 poll commissioned by American Airlines rated Tel Aviv the best "gay city" in the world, with a whopping 43 percent of the vote, more than tripling second place New York.

More significantly, Israeli law and the country's record of protecting gay and lesbian people against discrimination are among the most progressive in the world, considerably more liberal than those of most American states and Western democracies. Consider these incontrovertible developments over the past three decades:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathanmiller/the-crazy-lie-of-pinkwash_b_1565869.html

[pennylane100]

1. It is certainly good that the rights of the LGBT community are protected. That is as it should be.

However, that does not take away from the fact that is a significant percentage of the Israeli population that does not enjoy equal protection under the law. There are also several million Palestinians living in horrific conditions under Israel occupation and their land and freedom continues to be under assault.

It is very significant that the gay communities in Israel can thrive in a peaceful environment but the acknowledgement that there is considerable discrimination of other groups in Israel and the land it occupies does not threaten their rights. While I thing that Professor Jasbir Puar was wrong when she said "We cannot judge a country by it attitude toward homosexuals" and it is also true that we can judge a country by how it treats all of its people. Unfortunately, Israel does not treat all its people equally.

[Zorra]

4. Dear pennylane100: The Hosts of the LGBT Group request that you

either edit your post so as not to contain any references to Israel/Palestine relations, or that you self delete your post.

This is the LGBT Group, and while the OP was completely appropriate according to our SOP, we do not believe that any discussion of Israel/Palestine relations is appropriate in our LGBT Group in this thread.

Please take either of these courses of action ASAP.

Thank you for your consideration.

The Hosts of the LGBT Group.

[Zorra]

5. Dear pennylane100: You will be blocked from the LGBT unless you comply with our request

within the 10 minutes following the posting of this message.

A PM will be sent to you as well to notify you of this pending action.

[Zorra]

2. I am locking this thread, pending consensus of the LGBT Host's group.

[William769]

3. Israel is very friendly to the LGBT community

I hope one day before I die to visit Israel.

There was just a PRIDE festival with over 30,000 people unlike in Eastern Europe take Russia for example where PRIDE has been banned for the next 100 years!