Hello there/ A little Pride from Petach Tikva

Shalom Aleichem,

My name is Maiya and I am the third and final JOH intern to arrive for the summer. I am a fourth-year Anthropology and Psychology student at Bryn Mawr - a women's college located in the outskirts of Philadelphia, PA in the US, but Iam originally from Portland, Oregon and won't let you forget that. When I’m not waist deep in academics, you can usually find me at the BMC student garden weeding or singing with along with the birds in our birdbath.

Many of my friends, family members and acquaintances have asked me why, as a straight female, I am so excited to work for the Jerusalem Open House this summer. Aside for my up-coming thesis in Gender Studies that I'm sure will be colored by my experiences at JOH, the queer community has become an important part of my life in the last three years. Being apart of a proud LGBTQ community has encouraged many of my friends to explore and question their sexuality instead of feeling limited by heteronormative expectations that exist in many colleges around the US. As I approach the end of my time in college, I have become more and more aware of the fact that this haven for queer openness might not exist in my future communities. This especially extends to Israel and the Jewish community, both communities I intend value and intend to maintain my connection with. I see it as my duty to appreciate and acknowledge this luxury and do what I can on a local and global basis to further support the rights of queer communities. For that, I feel honored that JOH has welcomed me with open arms.

They really waste NO time here at JOH. After my first 10am to 4pm day, I was sent off along with one of my fellow interns Carissa and Alon, the Community Organizer, to Petach Tikva (a town located between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv) to celebrate their FIRST Pride Parade. When I told my co-worker, Benyamin, I was heading to Petach Tikva, he immediately started laughing, telling me that this town was, well, Petach Tikva. There were almost no words to describe it.  After visiting the place, what I think he meant is that as an extremely religious town, splattered with Sudanese, Muslims, and Jews alike, this was probably the last place one would find themselves marching in a Pride Parade. Right before we arrived, Alon warned me, don’t be surprised if there are 20 or 30 people there. Although it’s not an extremely small city, queer communities are not its main draw. Because of this impression I was given, I was completely taken aback by the crowd of over 100 who gathered to march the streets of Petach Tikva, sharing the pride of their identity, spreading the message of the love and acceptance of Gay communities, and marching in support of equal rights. Carissa, Alon and I, did our part, winding around the narrow streets with our large Jerusalem Pride post. After the mile-long march, the community gathered together at a park for speeches from local members of the community. Although I could not understand what was being said, Alon tried to translate for me. Here’s the gist of what I understood: One man spoke about the notion of ‘Pink Washing’ in Israel. He said that Tel Aviv is queer and proud of it, but many around Israel believe that that is where the queer communities should be limited too, if existing at all. Tel Aviv has been painted with a particular construction of a queer community, and many are resistant to considering queer community's existence elsewhere. I agree with him that this is unacceptable. What was so empowering about the Petach Tikva march was the fact that the word of queer acceptance was being spread to a community where many have never been introduced to the concept. These marches cannot be limited to one place of celebration, because queer people live everywhere, whether or not in the heart of the World’s Best Gay City (as discussed by Carissa) or in the religious capital of the world. Way to go Petach Tikva! I hope I look forward to marching in many more Pride Parades throughout Israel in my time here to spread knowledge and understanding of Queer Pride's existence in every locale.
                               

I will leave you all with a quote from a song by Jay Smooth, a rapper in New York City whose words inspire me every day to continue the work and support that I have begun: 


"Because when we find ourselves believing that killing a man makes us more of a man, but loving a man makes us less of a man, it’s probably time to reexamine our criteria for manhood."

Until next time,

-Maiya

Homophobia, not homosexuality, is the problem

During my first weekend in Israel, I had the pleasure of attending the Tel Aviv Pride Parade. The day was a flurry of rainbows and Madonna, of shirtless men and drag queens, that culminated in a beach party full of fabulousness.  Everyone marched and danced through the city without a shred of shame and it was easy to see why Tel Aviv was voted the world's best gay city in the 2011 American Airlines competition. Unfortunately, the openness of Tel Aviv, at least as it was expressed at the parade, doesn't extend throughout all of Israel.

Last week, Knesset Member Anastassia Michaeli came out with a series of incredibly offensive and misguided remarks about the LGBTQ community. (Read more about it here: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4242382,00.html) She claimed that homosexual people are "miserable" and "commit suicide by the age of 40." Michaeli also declared that all homosexuals were victims of sexual abuse as children.

While I have a strong grasp on the American struggle with politics and rights for the gay community, I knew very little about the situation of Israeli politics before I came here. And despite having the "world's best gay city," it seems that much is not different at all. It is appalling to so many of us that a person with political power can come out with such hateful and close-minded remarks.

MK Michaeli is correct in saying that suicide is a troubling problem within the gay community. According to the 2007 Massachusetts Youth Risk Survey, LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth. However, I believe JOH executive director Elinor Sidi said it best: "Homophobia, transphobia, violence, and discrimination lead to depression...and even suicide." Again, it is homophobia, not homosexuality, that is the problem. When people, whether it be peers or parents or politicians, are constantly communicating that it is shameful and disgusting to be gay, these words are internalized and can result in troubling emotional distress. It is for this reason that the Jerusalem Open House is so crucially important to Jerusalem and Israel at large. JOH espouses a message of not only tolerance, but acceptance, and supports and advocates for those who live in a country where even their elected officials spread messages of hate.

The Jerusalem Open House extends an open invitation to MK Michaeli to visit our center and truly learn about the realities of the gay community.  Bejamin Franklin said, "Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn." And if MK Michaeli makes the effort to educate herself, I think she will find not a group of depressed 40 year-olds, but a diverse community of people with partners they love who have truly found happiness.

-Carissa

Shalom!

Shalom! My name is Carissa and I’m one of the new interns at Jerusalem Open House this summer. I am going to be a senior at Yale University in the fall. I study American cultural history and hope to get my teaching degree or work in the non-profit sector after graduation.  I really love Harry Potter, Settlers of Catan, Game of Thrones, and bad reality shows about weddings. And I’m really excited to have the opportunity to work with JOH for the next two weeks.

My first few days in Israel were a bit chaotic. I missed by plane out of New York by ten minutes. Our apartment lost power and hot water the first few days we were here and still doesn’t have internet! And, most unfortunately, our air conditioner does not work. However, since I started at Jerusalem Open House, it’s been nothing but smooth sailing. (At least workwise!)

JOH really does stay true to their name. I was worried that as a non-Jew, non-Hebrew-speaker, straight American student, I’d really have no place here. But I was absolutely wrong. From the moment that Zach (the development coordinator and all-around awesome guy) came out of the office to greet me when I arrived after being lost for two hours, I’ve felt at home.  Everyone seemed genuinely excited to add a new person to the JOH group. The highlight of my day is still our big, family-style lunch. We run out to Jaffa Street to find places to pick up delicious food and convene back at JOH to eat together and talk. And as my Hebrew is atrocious, everyone is kind enough to speak in English so I can understand and participate.  

I’ll be back throughout the summer to tell more about my experiences working with JOH and to share some of the terrific work they do with the LGBT community in Israel!