Israeli LGBTs Say Gay Shootings Are Their Stonewall

A quick follow-up post to the Tel-Aviv gay shooting incident that happened over the weekend. The dead have been named as 26-year-old Nir Katz, a youth worker at the center where the shootings took place, and 16-year-old Liz Tarboushi, a girl described as quiet and “introverted” by her school classmates. They have now been laid to rest at a cemetery in Holon.

To read more about the victims of the shooting, please click here.

The UK’s Guardian newspaper has a quote from a handful of those who took to the streets to show solidarity in the face of the masked gunman’s terrible attack, saying:

“This is our Stonewall”

An example of this feeling is expressed in the video below, showing a spontaneous march that happened on the night of the shooting.

Of course, the quote refers to what many class as the defining moment in the American gay rights landscape, the Stonewall Riots, when gays and lesbians in New York City rebelled against police brutality on June 28th 1969 to start the fight for true equality and what is perceived as the modern Gay Rights movement.

Hopefully, these demonstrations will continue in the peaceful vein above, reacting to a closed fist with an open, but thankfully loud beating, heart (a title I’ve just shamelessly stolen and modified from Care2 Founder Randy Paynter and his blog post on the recent shootings that occurred in America that also involved the Jewish community).

Tel Aviv, often called “The Bubble” by the rest of Israel (a concept Israeli director Eytan Fox made a poignant film about), has often been disassociated from the rest of Israel for its Westernized attitudes, but the tragic events of Saturday night have seen wall-to-wall condemnation from religious and political voices alike.

Police are pursuing new leads in the hunt for the gunman and are also exploring other motives than solely that of a hate crime, considering the element of a personal vendetta against one of the club’s members as well.

The concept, though, that this could start a wave of change, that the lone gunman who attempted to turn a place of safety for LGBT youth in Tel Aviv into a slaughterhouse, may have inadvertently unified and strengthened not just Tel Aviv but Israel’s entire gay community, it is such an exciting possibility. But it seems so optimistic as to be the desperate grasping for meaning beyond tragedy. And yet…

There is a quote that On Top Magazine have been able to obtain from Kadima Party Leader Tzipi Livini who went down to the site of the shooting shortly after the event. The synchronicity of these words are startling. She said:

“I came here to show my support for those who live in the proud gay community and are grieving their dead. I hope that this terrible day will also give you strength and mark a turning point. This day should give children the strength to tell their parents ‘I’m gay’. This day should give parents the strength to love their children for who they are. This day should give the strength to make a change within Israeli society, so that it will be proud of its gay community.”

We all know that Stonewall wasn’t a cure for the prejudices and alienation LGBTs face on a day to day basis in America. Civil and Human Rights are never won in one battle, or by one blazing victory. But there is often a catalyst. A crystalizing moment that, when reached, ignites the fuel of change and begins the journey with new fervor.

“The struggle begins here, here is the source – what did Nir do? Nothing against anybody.”

These the words said by the sister of Nir as she stood at her brother’s graveside, a pledge of devotion to carry on the cause of awakening Israel to its LGBT citizens, of declaring a dividing line between what was and what could be – a noble work that her brother started in his efforts with counseling and mentoring young people, but was never allowed to finish.

Would You Like to Make a Similar Pledge?

Take just seconds out of your day to sign and pass along this Care2 pledge that seeks to let the Israeli Gay and Lesbian youth Alliance know that their strength, and the strength of all those Israeli LGBTs who marched in defiance of the tragedy, has been inspiring, and that the hearts of the global LGBT community stand with them at this time as they pursue change in their country and the right to live freely, with the person that they love, without fear.

Photo used under the Creative Commons Attribution License, with thanks to Niv.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Joseph W.

5:29AM PDT on Aug 21, 2009

No hate here - just an ongoing sense of wonderment at folks who would co-opt the teachings of Jesus to justify hate. The same voices that advocate for the destruction of GLBT people are the same that argued that African Americans should not be allowed to have civil rights, that the Chinese were less than human ( for those of you who are not aware of this history - please read Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans) It is less about civil rights and more about the need to have something to hate - which seems to support a series of beliefs that - in the absence of some "enemy" - could not stand on it's own - which, oddly enough, is very un-Christian.
Reminds me of the quote by Ghandi - "I like your Christ - I do not like your Christians - they are so unlike your Christ"

send a green star

Past Member .

8:33AM PDT on Aug 15, 2009

joanne,if the bible is fiction why would you quote it? and no one but you has screamed hate! you must believe it to be true or you would have never quoted from it.

Joanne R.

8:41PM PDT on Aug 14, 2009

Yes, keep interpreting the Bible to suit your own beliefs and judgments. First of all the Bible is mostly fiction, secondly if you would like to use your friend Jesus as an example, then TRULY use him as an example: He was not judgmental (except money-changers), was not a hater of anybody for any reason, and would not, I believe, approve of your using Him as an excuse and justification to judge and hate others.

6:20PM PDT on Aug 11, 2009

claira, i see no hate in nathaniels or michelles comment. i see love in nathaniels and scripture in michelles if you were a true christian you would see the difference. i see you screaming hate where there is none that makes you an instigator!

6:15PM PDT on Aug 11, 2009

claira, i do not see any hate in nathaniel's or michelle's comment! i see scripture in michelle's and love in nathaniel's. and if you were a true christian you would be able to tell the difference!! i think you like to scream hate where there is none that makes you an instigator!

clara H.

8:15PM PDT on Aug 10, 2009

Stop hating on the gays!! I'm totally straight and a true Christian I don't hate someone becase they are different. Why fight about something like this why can't we live together more peaceful and fight for things that matter like ending wars and poverty.

8:01AM PDT on Aug 10, 2009

NATHANIEL, AMEN!!!

Nathaniel B.

6:33AM PDT on Aug 10, 2009

I do not agree with the below post by AbdulAziz. I do not wish to see anyone suffer. Especially from a horrific disease like Hiv. No Christian should get pleasure from the distress and suffering of another human being, or animal for that matter. I am far from convinced Abdul is Christian, he may belong to another belief. As a follower of Christ, I truly only desire the lost turn to Christ and find peace and forgiveness and eternal life. I in no wise want to see suffering on any scale happening to anyone. Christian, unbeliever, homosexual or anyone else. Actually, I will not include those that are horrific to others, like child molesters etc.

AbdulAziz A.

5:24AM PDT on Aug 9, 2009

We should all leave the "HAPPY" people alone, let them carry on with their activities and THEY should in return not PREACH their way of life to others. If they believe in a God, they will be dealt with by God, otherwise they suffer from Aids anyway

3:27PM PDT on Aug 8, 2009

HERE LETS BREAK IT DOWN SO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND IT. FROM THE N.L.T. BIBLE. ROMANS:1, 26-28 THAT IS WHY GOD ABANDONED THEM TO THEIR SHAMEFUL DESIRES. EVEN THE WOMEN TURNED AGAINST THE NATURAL WAY TO HAVE SEX AND INSTEAD INDULGED IN SEX WITH EACH OTHER . AND THE MEN, INSTEAD OF HAVING NORMAL SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH WOMEN, BURNED WITH LUST FOR EACH OTHER.MEN DID SHAMEFUL THINGS WITH OTHER MEN AND, AS A RESULT, SUFFERED WITHIN THEMSELVES THE PENALTY THEY SO RICHLY DESERVED. WHEN THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD,HE ABANDONED THEM TO THEIR EVIL MINDS AND LET THEM DO THINGS THAT SHOULD NEVER BE DONE. IT DOES NOT GET ANY PLAINER THEN THAT! IF YOU REALLY WANT THE TRUTH ASK GOD YOURSELF.