John Greyson is a Canadian director, writer, video artist, producer, and political activist, whose work frequently deals with queer characters and themes. He was part of a loosely-affiliated group of filmmakers to emerge in the 1980s from Toronto known as the Toronto New Wave.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Israel are considered the most developed in the Middle East. Although same-sex sexual activity was legalized in 1988, the former law against sodomy had not been enforced since a court decision in 1963. Israel became the first country in Asia to recognize unregistered cohabitation between same-sex couples, making it the first country in Asia to recognize same-sex unions in any capacity. Although same-sex marriages are not performed in the country, Israel recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation was prohibited in 1992. Same-sex couples are allowed to jointly adopt, following a landmark court decision in 2008. Previously, stepchild adoption, as well as limited co-guardianship rights for non-biological parents, were permitted. LGBT people are also allowed to serve openly in the military.
Same-sex marriage is not legal in Israel. The government has registered same-sex marriages performed abroad for some purposes since 2006. However, marriages performed in Israel are only available from one of the 15 religious marriage courts recognized by the state, none of which permit same-sex marriage under their respective auspices. Consequently, Israelis who desire to have their same-sex marriage recognized by the government must first marry outside Israel, in a jurisdiction where such marriages are legal, and then register upon returning home.
Lucas Entertainment is a New York-based gay pornographic studio started by porn star Michael Lucas. It is one of the largest such studios in the world. The studio is known for lavish, big-budget films, and it contends that its 2006 film Michael Lucas' La Dolce Vita is the most expensive gay porn ever made. The film won 14 GayVN awards in 2007, the current record.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender (LGBT) people in Palestine face legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT residents. According to Amnesty International's 2020 report on Palestine, "Section 152 of the Penal Code in Gaza criminalizes [male] consensual same-sex sexual activity and makes it punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment." In 2019, the Palestinian Authority police banned the activities of queer and feminist rights organization Al Qaws, requesting that residents report 'suspicious' activities.
Etai J. Pinkas was a leader of the Israeli LGBT community. Pinkas served as chairman of the national LGBT association in Israel and was a member of the Tel Aviv-Yafo City Council and advises the mayor on LGBT affairs. Pinkas is an active council member of the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality and serves as the Chair of the city's tenders committee and responsible for the Operations Division. Pinkas also chairs the municipality's steering committee for the Ayalon capping. In his profession, Pinkas is a risk management expert, specializing in environment and infrastructures.
Michael Lucas is a Russian–Israeli-American businessman and the founder and CEO of Lucas Entertainment, Manhattan's largest gay-adult-film company.
The Aguda – Israel's LGBT Task Force, known commonly as the Aguda, is an Israeli non-profit LGBT rights organization. Founded in 1975, the Aguda is based in Tel Aviv and focuses on volunteer-based initiatives and services for the LGBT community.
Yair Qedar is an Israeli documentary filmmaker, social activist and former journalist.
Men of Israel is a 2009 gay pornographic film released by Lucas Entertainment studio. Journalists from The Atlantic, Out Magazine and Yediot Aharonot noted it as a landmark film as the first pornographic movie shot on location with an all-Israeli cast; while Tablet magazine and the Los Angeles Times remarked on it being the first to feature an all-Jewish cast. Director Michael Lucas—who is Jewish and obtained his Israeli citizenship in 2009—undertook the film as "a bold move to promote Israeli culture and tourism" and to counterbalance what he saw as biased portrayals of Israel in mainstream media.
Gay Days is a 2009 Israeli documentary film about the emergence of a LGBT community in Israel, starring major activists in Israel's cultural life and LGBT community: Gal Uchovsky, Eytan Fox, Ellyot, Amalia Ziv, Amit Kama and others and some rare archival footage from pride events, feature films and student films.
Tel Aviv Pride is a week-long series of events in Tel Aviv which takes place on the second week of June, as part of the international observance of Gay Pride Month. The key event, taking place on the Friday, is the Pride Parade itself which attracts over 250,000 attendees. As of June 2019, it is the largest LGBT Parade in Asia.
Would You Have Sex with an Arab? is a feature-length documentary film by French director Yolande Zauberman. It premiered at the 2011 Venice Film Festival, and released in France on 12 September 2012.
Amos Guttman was an Israeli film director, born in Romania. He directed the first ever Israeli LGBT-themed film and most of his films were based on events that happened in his own personal life.
TLVFest or the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Tel Aviv, Israel. The festival is focused on LGBT themed film from around the world.
Gila Goldstein was an Israeli actress, singer and transgender rights activist. She was one of the first activists of the Aguda, the oldest and largest LGBT organization in Israel. She is considered Israel's second transgender woman and is one of the most prominent icons of the LGBTQIA+ movement in Israel.
Gal Uchovsky is an Israeli screenwriter, producer, journalist, activist and Israeli TV personality.
On July 22, 2018 Israeli members of the LGBT community went on strike for the day to protest against the discrimination of the LGBT community on the Israeli Surrogacy Law, and the continuing violence towards the Israeli trans community. During the strike, that was held on the same day as the fast of Tisha B'Av, many organizations and companies allowed their employees to be absent to participate in the many protest events that were held throughout the day across the country, including Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba, Ra'anana and other cities.
Yariv (Mordechai) Mozer, is an Israeli film producer, screenwriter and film director.
Chen Arieli is a social activist, feminist, and politician who has been active in the LGBTQIA+ rights and Women's rights movement in Israel. Chen Arieli was born on July 9, 1976 and raised in Haifa to Dan and Leah, a sister to Orly Zarfati and Ran Arieli. Arieli currently serves as the Deputy Mayor of the Tel Aviv-Yafo and serves as Co-Chair of The Aguda – Israel's LGBT Task Force. Arieli is the first open Lesbian to hold the Deputy Mayor position.
