Israel Announces $2.7 Million Plan To Advance LGBT Equality

“There is no doubt that this is a significant milestone for the gay community...in Israel."

From: NewNowNext

 The Israeli government announced Wednesday a nearly $3 million plan to promote equality for the country’s LGBT community.

The plan was approved as part of the 2017-18 budget, and will be divided among the Social Equality, Welfare and Education ministries.

 Under the new initiative, the Social Equality ministry will receive $660,000 to create a campaign aimed at combating discrimination, the Welfare ministry will be allotted $400,000 to construct LGBT centers nationwide and the Education ministry will be granted $1.3 million to formulate activities that promote tolerance.

The remainder of the funds will be evenly distributed among various LGBT organizations throughout the country. Some money will also be set aside for the Sheba Medical Center, which oversees a majority of Israel’s gender confirmation surgeries.

“There is no doubt that this is a significant milestone for the gay community in its efforts to achieve equality in Israel,” Aguda Israeli National LGBT Task Force Executive Director Ohad Hizki said. “This is the beginning of a truly good year.”

The move comes at the end of a summer that saw both triumphant moments for the LGBT community (such as the great successes of Tel Aviv Pride and a movement to bring Israeli soldiers and LGBT families together for the High Holy Days) and moments of blatant homophobia (like these religious protests over a gay singer’s performance and the military’s inclusion of LGBT soldiers.)

Hopefully, this new allocation of funds will only help to push Israel toward full acceptance of its LGBT citizens.