LGBTQ-PHOBIA STATUS REPORT IN ISRAEL - 2023

2022 LGBTQ-PHOBIA STATUS REPORT IN ISRAEL

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Since 2012, The Aguda - The Association for LGBTQ+ Equality in Israel, has operated the Reporting Center for LGBTQ-phobic incidents, serving as the primary platform in Israel for monitoring and addressing discrimination, harm, and expressions of hatred against LGBTQ+ community members nationwide. The eleventh LGBTQ-phobia status report presents the state of homophobic incidents in 2023, as reported to The Aguda's Reporting Center. This year, following uYR rqERbż EcEr |Eqŧ rZXdZ’NEdu NfdrZPRqEuZfdr |RqR cEPR qRXEqPZdX uYR dEuvqR of the report. The war abruptly altered the fabric of Israeli society, inciting deep fear, concern, and uncertainty among the general public. Despite the LGBTQ+ community's mobilization in support of the national effort, living in an emergency nfrRP rZXdZ’NEdu NYEbbRdXRr Wfq Zur cRcMRqrŬ qfc #NufMRq ĥ fd|EqPŧ uYRqR |Er a notable decrease in reports to the reporting center. In the last quarter of 2023 (October-December), only 136 reports were received, reflecting a 53% decrease compared to similar data from 2022. Research conducted by the Israeli Institute for Gender and LGBTQ Studies during the Israel-Hamas war indicates that 20% of community members experienced increased LGBTQ phobia since the start of the war compared to the period before it. ErRP fd uYRrR ’dPZdXrŧ Zu Zr ErrvcRP uYEu uYR PRNqRErR Zd qRnfqur uf 1YR XvPEŰr Reporting Center does not really reflect a reduction in homophobic incidents but rather various barriers to reporting. Consequently, this report addresses LGBTQ nYfMZE Wqfc #NufMRq uf RNRcMRq ĠĞĠġ Er E rRnEqEuR NEuRXfq~ŧ ZdNbvPZdX ’dPZdXr and data on LGBTQ+ experiences during the war concerning LGBTQ-phobia and other contexts. 1YRqRWfqRŧ uYZr ~REqŧ |R ruqvNuvqRP uYR qRnfqu Er Wfbbf|rŦ 1YR ’qru nEqu nqRrRdur uYR status based on reports received by The Aguda's Reporting Center from January 1, 2023, to October 1, 2023. The second part addresses the status of LGBTQ+ individuals during the war, based on data collected by the Israeli Institute for Gender and LGBTQ Studies through a national survey mapping the needs of the LGBTQ+ community during the Israel-Hamas war. This survey was conducted as a joint initiative by a group of local authorities in collaboration with The Aguda, with data collected between December 5, 2023, and December 21, 2023. The total number of reports received this year on LGBTQ-phobic incidents is 1,063 (from January 1 to October 1). This marks a concerning increase of 28% in reports of LGBTQ-phobic incidents in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, continuing an upward trend in the number of reports to the center over the years. 1

1 fq cRuYfPfbfXZNEb qRErfdrŧ uYZr ~REqŰr qRnfqu nqRrRdur PEuE Wqfc qRnfqur qRNRZ{RP uf uYR qRnfquZdX NRduRq fdb~ŧ and will not, like previous years, present data received from other community organizations.