10 LGBTQ-Phobia 2022 Report

LGBTQ-Phobia 2022 Report

2. Religion and LGBTQ ƃ8YRd uYRqR Zr E nEqEPR bZaR uYEuŧ ~fv YE{R uf rYvu uYR |ZdPf|rŧ EdP uRbb uYR NYZbPqRdŧ ƅ1YRqR Zr E nEqEPR fW MRErur |EbaZdX fd u|f WRRuƆƄ Ų .EMMZ RZq EvŬ In 2022, many LGBTQ-phobic remarks were made by various clerics who cynically used religion to justify LGBTQ-phobic rhetoric. The abusive discourse was expressed by senior rabbis, religious politicians, activists, and conservative organizations’ spokespersons (such as the Family Forum, which comprises the Bocharim BaMishpacha group). The key escalation points in the past year mainly concerned lifestyle, gender identity, and sexual orientation. They claimed that these elements are incongruous with Jewish religious values. Throughout the year, we were exposed to numerous ways in which minority groups and factions endeavored to promote hate lobbying in the media and various organizations. Offensive statements made by public personas from the ultra-Orthodox and religious sectors towards the LGBTQ community have resonated extensively on these sectors’ social networks and popular media platforms. It should be noted that alongside this, quite a few religious elements are very accepting and believe in including the LGBTQ community and use religion to promote cordiality. vNY fW uYR 1-żnYfMZN PZrNfvqrR |Er rnRNZ’NEbb~ uEqXRuZdX ~fvuY XfZdX uYqfvXY XRdPRqż EW’qcZdX nqfNRrrRrŬ 1YZr nYRdfcRdfd qRnqRrRdur E dR| NfdrRq{EuZ{R cf{RcRduŧ |YZNY YEr recently hastened its expressions. It twists Jewish values and cynically manipulates the Jewish religion to justify hatred. This phenomenon in Israel seems to be “importing” similar practices used by conservative organizations abroad. For example, these movements assert that the LGBTQ community seeks to disband the traditional family foundation. The public statements made by these religious elements permeate and create a shocking new reality, endangering Israel’s LGBTQ community. A prominent recent example is from a school in Israel’s central metropolis in January. Students were asked to choose a topic for debate. One student suggested that they discuss “killing all XE~rŧƄ EdP fuYRq ruvPRdur NfduZdvRP |ZuYŦ ƃ:Rrŧ bRrMZEdr rYfvbP PZR uffŬƄ cfdX uYR `vruZ’NEuZfdr for supporting the idea of the extermination: “They spend a whole month stripping in public, and that’s not enough for them;” “this is a Jewish state, and there is no place for them here.” The teacher stated: “A seventh-grader doesn’t say ‘stripping;’ he’s influenced by the Noam party’s posts.” 3 This report was written after the swearing-in of the 2022 elected government. In the months since its inauguration, we have seen a rise in lawsuits by anti-LGBTQ organizations against gay organizations, particularly regarding religious matters. In addition, as reported in the media, the Noam Party has compiled “blacklists” that comprise the names of individuals and journalists that are members of the LGBTQ community as part of an organized plan to chart the “threats” to the party. Major Maltreatment Elements Relating to Religion and LGBTQ When assessing the overall reports of LGBTQ abuse in a religious context, it’s clear that the rfvqNR fW uYR fWWRdPZdX nEquZRr Zr nvMbZN ’XvqRrŧ cRPZE nRqrfdEbZuZRrŧ EdP fqXEdZEuZfdr |ZuY religious elements or whose statements are based on religion. Among the personas are Knesset members, politicians, senior rabbis, community leaders, etc. The second category includes journalists, influencers, publicists, etc. The third are organizations such as Bocharim BaMishpacha, Achva Center, and others. d RWWRNuŧ ĢĥƝ fW uYR .RnfquZdX RduRqƆr qRXZruRqRP NErRr fW EMvrR M~ {EqZfvr nEquZRr PfNvcRdu cEbuqREucRdu M~ nvMbZN ’XvqRrŧ cRPZE nRqrfdErŧ EdP qRbZXZfvr fqXEdZEuZfdrŬ

3 Extracted from - https://www.mako.co.il/news-israel/2023_q1/Article-af9df6c7774b581026.htm