LGBTQ EQUALITY LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE - In Memory of Major Sagi Golan

Amendment to the Interpretation Law In 1992, Israel marked a milestone by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in the Employment (Equal Opportunities) Law. Subsequent amendments expanded anti discrimination laws, signaling the immense significance of legislation banning discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. Such legislation communicates a social message of equality and provides the courts with tools to offer relief to LGBTQ individuals who have been harmed by discrimination. However, legislative gaps remain for two reasons. First, several laws addressing discrimination do not explicitly include grounds related to LGBTQ issues. Second, except for one law (the Student Rights Law), these laws only address discrimination based on sexual orientation and do not refer to discrimination based on gender identity (e.g., discrimination against trans individuals). While labor court rulings offer some protection, only comprehensive and explicit legal amendments will properly anchor this norm.

Maya Orabi: “As a nurse, I provide care to everyone equally, with acceptance and compassion, allowing my patients to recover by fostering trust in the treatment process. Unfortunately, this is not the treatment my trans sisters and I receive in society and the job market. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Join me in believing in the common good.”

Required Action To effectively address both issues—the omission of sexual orientation from anti-discrimination laws and the significant oversight of gender identity discrimination—a proposed bill has been drafted to amend the Interpretation Law. The proposed amendment specifies that the term “discrimination” within the law should encompass instances based on sexual orientation or gender identity, aligning with the legislative objectives.

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