Gay Americans are Proud of Our Achievements

Idan Matalon for A Wider Bridge

Idan Matalon joined the Israel journey of A Wider Bridge and discovered that while Israelis dream of the American dream – the Americans dream of Israel

It’s true that I’ve visited Jerusalem and the Dead Sea dozens of times, and it’s true that I’ve been living in Tel Aviv for years, but a few weeks ago, I joined 21 LGBT North Americans who came for a first visit to Israel as part of a project of the American organization A Wider Bridge. I had the opportunity to feel what people ‘from the outside’ really think about Israel and about our LGBT community and the opportunity to experience visiting places for the first time with them.

A Wider Bridge is a pro-Israel organization which aims to create a deeper relationship with Israel and the LGBT community. The organization’s flagship project is called A Wider Bridge Israel Mission.

What I found unique about this journey is the fact that this group unites young and older people, Jews and non-Jews, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender people, and everyone is interested in Israel and want to know more about the country and the LGBT community. They want to connect and support more.

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Transgender woman denied entry to Western Wall

Ynet News

After being banned from women’s section of holy site, Kay Long approaches men’s section only to be yelled at and told to enter section that had already rejected her.

When Kay Long came to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Tuesday she naturally approached the women's section - as her life as a man seemed like a far-off piece of history. However, at the entrance to the holy site she was approached by one of the organizers at the women's section and was denied entrance.

Entering the men's section was out of the question for Long, who does not identify with the male gender any longer. Therefore Long was forced to give up on her visit to the Western Wall and her wish to place a note between the ancient Jerusalem stones. "God will also hear me from another place," said Long.

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IDF is Welcoming for Transgender Recruits

From Haaretz

New policy in the Israeli army to help transgender soldiers from the time they get first draft notice through getting gender-appropriate uniforms and housing.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has decided to institute a new approach to dealing with transgender recruits by offering them extra support from the time they get their first draft notice at age 16 through their army service.

The new policy intends to make army service easier for transgender soldiers, regardless of whether they intend to undergo gender reassignment surgery, according to a report in Yedioth Ahronoth, which cites the army’s Bamahane magazine.

According to the report published Thursday, transgender soldiers have had to ask for assistance from commanding officers in order to get uniforms and housing for their preferred gender, as well as hormone treatments.

Maj. Iris Wagman, head of the mental health unit in the army’s Medical Corps, said the army reached out to the Israeli Center for Human Sexuality and Gender Identity to help it become more familiar with the needs of transgender recruits.

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LGBT: Liberal Judaism to host landmark Transgender project: Twilight people

From Jewishnews.co.uk

One of the UK’s major strands of Judaism, Liberal Judaism, has announced that it will host Twilight People: Stories of Gender and Faith Beyond the Binary.

The new project is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, and will be launched after a successful Transgender Awareness Month.

Twilight People will discover and celebrate the hidden history of transgender and gender-variant people of faith in the UK past and present.

This collection will become the first source of faith and transgender history in Britain.

Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich said: “Liberal Judaism has always seen part of its mission to give voice to the unheard. Our hosting of the Twilight People project is yet a further example.”

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