You've come a long way, Israel baby--welcome gay porno (Lucas Entertainment)
If Tablet Magazine is to be believed, the Jewish world has come a long way baby because the gay porno industry has made the first pornographic film with an all-Israeli/all-Jewish cast. As strange and disturbing as I find this article on many levels, it is this passage which disturbs me most:
This week, Michael Lucas is making what he calls “a bold move to promote Israeli culture and tourism.” His website extols the virtues of a country rich with natural wonders, intriguing museums, liberal politics, and friendly locals. More than a biblical theme park, Lucas’s Israel is a tourist destination, a place where lovely beaches beckon and muscle-bound men have sex with each other.
Lucas—a porn actor and director, and founder of the New York-based gay porn production company Lucas Entertainment—sees his new film Men of Israel as a tool, if you will, to promote tourism, at least among gay men.
Make no mistake, this is not a one-off promotion by an odd-ball Jewish gay pornographer. This is part of an orchestrated hasbara campaign spearheaded by groups like Stand With Us, who promoted Israel during the latter’s Gay Pride Festival as a natural ally of gays around the world. The angle for SWU (and there always IS an angle with groups like this) is to trumpet the alleged homophobia of Palestinian/Arab society compared to the alleged freedom and tolerance of “western” Israel towards a gay lifestyle. Never mind that Israel is less tolerant of gays than the average western country. That matters little for the hasbaraniks of SWU.
Articles like the one in Tablet make clear the danger of choosing such bedfellows for Israel. Remember the last major ‘heartthrob’ Israel embraced? Those evangelicals like John Hagee, who supports a nuclear attack against Iran and claims the Holocaust was a message from God to Jews to become Zionists?
Does anyone in their right mind think that Israel will benefit from a close association with the gay porn industry? And what was the Tablet editor who commissioned this article thinking? This is a newsworthy story? Bizarre, disturbing–yes. But newsworthy? But hey, I’m not complaining. This blog thrives off chronicling the bad judgment of some of my fellow Jews.
Interesting to note that the film has been promoted by those connoisseurs of the gay lifestyle, Jeffrey Goldberg and James Kirchick (who Eric Alterman’s calls Marty Peretz’s “mini-me”). Goldberg takes the typically hasbarist line of comparing Israel’s supposedly tolerant attitude toward gays with the Arab world’s supposedly homophobic approach (I Bet Ahmadinejad Wouldn’t Let This Happen in Iran). This is why Goldberg is the Israeli foreign ministry’s favorite “liberal” (I use the term VERY loosely) Jewish journalist.
Come on man!
We dont live in the dark ages.
If you dont want to get associated with Isreali gay porn – well then dont watch it, dont mention it … Just leave it!
You are looking for things to get offended by – just give it up…
And by the way, Isreali men are so HANDSOME 🙂
CREEEEEEEPY! Verrrry, verrrry CREEEEEEEEPY!
And there is a sense of desperation these days about the hasbara and its purveyors, isn’t there?
RE: “…sees his new film Men of Israel as a tool, if you will, to promote tourism, at least among gay men”
MY COMMENT: Move over, Palm Springs! (lol)
AMERICA’S “GAY OASIS” – http://www.gaypalmspringsca.com/
PS. Thanks for that totally awesome picture! Those are two of the cutest dudes I’ve seen since “Brokeback Mountain”. That ‘tat’ is absolutely “to die for”! Isn’t that what they call a ‘tribal tattoo’ (tribal, as in Africa)?
Liars, liars, pants on fire!
Anti-gay discourse is openly tolerated in Israel. Shas leader Eli Yishai has determined that gays are “sick people” (see here. In his capacity as the Interior Minister of Israel, he has urged the Prime Minister to cancel the Tel Aviv gay-pride parade in a letter also signed by National Union MK Uri Ariel, United Torah Judaism MK Menachem Eliezer Moses, Tel Aviv council members as well as the city’s chief rabbis; see here.
The fact that gays are not publicly whipped doesn’t erase the reality that hate speech is used against them by prominent politicians and religious leaders. Such incitement would mean the end of a government in any other advanced democracy.
It seems the very existence of gay pride parades is evidence enough that a fruitful gay life is more possible in the state of Israel than in many of it’s neighbors. This alone is a pretty specious argument in favor of Israel’s existence or anything else it does but the extent to which Silverstein is willfully obtuse about this plainly obvious fact. I would say only Turkey has a more thriving gay life in the “region”.
But that’s not saying much now is it? Should we crow because Israel treats gays marginally better than Egypt does? Or Syria? Or Iraq? Is that the yardstick you really wish to use?
And did you even bother to read this comment or seriously attempt to grapple w. it?
I’m not offended by gay porn per se. I AM offended that Israel is using gay porn and the international gay rights movement as part of its hasbara war with the Arab world. That troubles me just as deeply as Israel’s exploitation of Christian evangelicals for the same purpose.
If you think LGBT rights in Israel are only marginally better in Israel than in Egypt you’re either completely clueless about Israel or I’m completely clueless about Egypt.
LGBT rights in Israel are better than in most American states and definitely better in the Israeli military than in the American military (unless the don’t ask don’t tell policy has changed). “anti gay discourse” is tolerated in Israel because discourse is tolerated in Israel. People on the left have a hard time accepting that even intolerant people are allowed to have a say.
Give credit where credit is do.
On what basis do you support such a claim? And let’s understand that if you wish to claim that there are conservative states in this country with negative attitudes towards gays, let’s also concede that the entire Orthodox community (at least 20-30% of the entire population) would have similar views of gays. BTW, is there gay marriage in Israel? Didn’t think so. What about inheritance rights for gay partners? Rights of partners to be considered next of kin for medical purposes?
Is there gay marriage in the United States in all 50 states? Didn’t think so. What about inheritance rights for gay partners? Rights of partners to be considered next of kin for medical purposes?
In Israel – “on November 21, 2006, the Supreme Court of Israel ordered the government to recognize same-sex marriages performed abroad.”
Adoption – ” In November 2005, a groundbreaking court decision in Israel ruled that a lesbian spouse could officially adopt a child born to her current partner, by artificial insemination from an anonymous sperm donor”
More on adoption: “On March 10, 2009, the Tel Aviv family court ruled that former Knesset member Uzi Even and his life partner, Amit Kama, can legally adopt their 30-year-old foster son, Yossi”
Financial matters (including inheritance):”The Civil Service Commission extends spousal benefits and pensions to the partners of homosexual employees. The Israeli State Attorney’s Office has extended the spousal exemption from property-transfer taxes to same-sex couples. Israel’s attorney general has granted legal recognition to same-sex couples in financial and other business matters. Attorney General Meni Mazuz said the couples will be treated the same as common-law spouses, recognizing them as legal units for tax, real estate, and financial purposes. Mazuz made his decision by refusing to appeal a district court ruling in an inheritance case that recognized the legality of a same-sex union, his office said in a statement.”
Military: “Unlike many other democratic nations, the armed forces of Israel allow service without any distinction based on sexual orientation.[citation needed] Since 1993, homosexuals have been allowed to openly serve in the military, including special units.” (can the US say the same)
Inheritabce: “On December 14, 2004, the Nazareth District Court ruled that same-sex couples have the same rights as married couples in inheritance rights.”
I stand by my assertion that LGBT rights in Israel are better than in most American states.
There is a very big diff. bet. Israel and America’s 50 states. There is no state law in Israel since Israel has no states. So Israeli law is essentially national in nature. So, in effect, if there is no gay marriage in Israel–while there are a number of jurisdictions here (& many more contemplate doing so) recognizing gay marriage–then Israel’s recognition of gay rights is inferior to the U.S. on this pt. since there is no gay marriage in any Israeli jurisdiction. In other words, the U.S. can legislate nationally and state by state. We do not legislate marriage nationally as Israel does. So claiming that because all 50 states do not yet recognize gay marriage that the U.S. is no more advanced than Israel on the subject is bogus.
I am glad that there is gay adoption & gay inheritance in Israel, but there is gay adoption & inheritance here & you claimed that Israeli recognition of gay rights was MORE advanced than in the U.S. So this claim doesn’t really get you anywhere.
The only pt. on which Israel IS superior is in terms of military service. But this single issue, while important, isn’t enough to prove that Israel is superior.
Also it is bogus to narrow your claim to the almost insignificant point that Israel is more advanced that SOME U.S. states. What you should be arguing is the overall quality & status of gay life in the U.S. compared to Israel. Not the overall status of gay life in Israel compared to Utah or Wyoming.
Utah? Wyoming? What about California? Or did you not hear about prop 8.
Look, I’m not trying to get into a superiority fight. The fact is that very few countries allow same sex marriage and in the US very few states. This is not the litmus test.
Overall, Israel’s record with LGBT rights is closer to the European record than to Egypt’s record.
I just looked at the status of same sex marriage entry at wikipedia and was surprised to see just how right I was. Same sex marriages (SSMs) are allowed only in 7 countries and 3 US states and 3 US more US states will have them soon. I must point out that these are not the most populous states. SSMs are recognized but not performed in Israel and NY (and DC). In 43 states they are neither performed or recognized (including the most populous state CA). 29 states (over half) explicitly ban same sex marriage BY LAW and an additional 14 states define marriage as being between members of opposite sex. So if you live in one of these 43 states and you are gay or lesbian and want to marry, you are worse off than if you lived in Israel.
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“anti gay discourse” is tolerated in Israel because discourse is tolerated in Israel. People on the left have a hard time accepting that even intolerant people are allowed to have a say.
Intolerant people should be allowed to have a say, agreed. I’m all for freedom of expression. However, they should not be invited to join government coalitions! Here we’re talking about a cabinet minister who has described gays as sick people. Nowhere else in the democratic world would that be accepted, and you know it.
So what if they say “I Bet Ahmadinejad Wouldn’t Let This Happen in Iran.” Believe me, gays didn’t just fall off the turnip wagon!
Israel’s record on LGBT rights is good, overall. It has a minister that thinks homosexuality is a disease. But, homosexuality is not treated as a disease in Israel. He tried to have the parade banned, but FAILED. Ishai and Shas hold a lot of other opinions that I disagree with. He represents a significant constituency which deserves to have representation in the parliament and government. Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that we still let him talk, their achievements are not that great in shaping Israeli society, certainly when it comes to LGBT rights.
HB – why don’t you read a little about the new President of the European Parliament
http://ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/09/Jul/1203print.htm
Then you can read about his political party the civic platform
http://www.gayagenda.com/2009/05/homophobic-hysteria-in-poland/
Remember, we’re talking about the President of the European Parliament.
Israel’s record is not “good.” I’d give it a B- grade, acceptable but certainly not good. Some of the reasons for that grade are specifically mentioned by you. The fact that a key minister in the gov’t sees gays as diseased scum is alarming (but not unexpected given Shas’ & Orthodox Judaism’s views on the subject). While there is homophobia & anti gay violence in this country, no Cabinet officer (at least not in a Democratic administration) would ever be able to make the comments that this Israeli minister has made on the subject.
You are not correct. Actually Massachusetts, which has gay marriage, is not only a populous state, but a cultural/political bellweather. Further, New York is in serious stages of enacting gay marriage & were it not for a legislature that is in total disarray, a law would prob. be enacted this session. Calif. will also have gay marriage very soon I predict. So there are states in this country which allow performances of gay marriage in their jurisdictions while there are none in Israel that do.
Do let us know when Bibi’s Orthodox coalition members tell him they’d be happy with a gay marriage law in Israel.
And again, you are wrong about yr fate if you live in a no gay marriage state. You merely hop in your car or on a plane and travel to a state which performs them & voila, you’re married. Not too complicated or expensive usually. And certainly not “worse off than if you lived in Israel.”
But you’re marriage won’t be recognized in your home state. From Israel, you can hop on a plane to Belgium or Amsterdam (closer tan Mass is to Cal), not that big of a deal, and when you come you’re marriage will be recognized by Israel.
Actually, Ishai never used the word “scum”. He was stating his opinion that homosexuality is a disease. If stating an opinion about a controversial issue is grounds for dismissal then you’re not living in a democratic society. And yes, homosexuality is still a controversial issue. It’s better to allow open discussion.
That’s nice that gays seem to generally be treated OK in Israel. And sure, one can argue that, on some issues like this one, Israel is more socially liberal than most of her Arab brothers and sisters. In this respect, we can see how Israel is taking part in the historical currents of cultural change/evolution happening in the Western world, at least when it comes to homosexuality.
Israel, by the very nature of its history, is quite closely tied to the West in a way that is different from its Middle Eastern neighbors, many of her citizens are or are descended from refugees or, later, immigrants from Europe, or hark from other western countries (like the U.S.) as well. It makes sense that there would be more of a parallel cultural trajectory on social issues like this. It’s all relative, though, Israel and the U.S. are fairly “backward” compared to western Europe when it comes to this stuff.
What I take from this post is that it’s sad that Israel is using its relative gay-friendliness in the Semitic world as a sort of PR campaign. Acceptance of gayness should be a value in itself, not part of an image front or some tool in Israel’s propaganda wars with its neighbors. To the effect of ‘oh look how enlightened and socially advanced we are and how bad and backward those A-rabs and Persians are’. This kind of more-enlightened-than-thou messaging is depressing and, perhaps ironically given the subject matter, it smacks of bigotry.
And none of this in the least bit rationalizes, justifies, or renders OK, Israel’s inhumane treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories or its periodic harassment of Lebanon. In this last respect, one could also see this gay-friendly PR campaign as a kind of discourse of avoidance.
The President of the European Parliament doesn’t seem to have made anti-gay statements himself, and at any rate he doesn’t currently claim that gays are sick. Does discourse matter? Yes it does. It is the anti-gay discourse that incited a homophobe Israeli to stab demonstrators at a gay parade in 2005. Of course he was given 12 years in jail (the poor man didn’t know that if he wanted to be released soon he had to stab an Arab), but countries that are free of anti-gay bigotry don’t have any gay stabbings at all.
Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that we still let him talk, their achievements are not that great in shaping Israeli society
So that if in a certain European country a minister claimed that Jews are hook-nosed money-loving scum you would be fine with it so long as he didn’t succeed in introducing antisemitic legislation? After all, it would be an instance of “letting someone talk.”
He didn’t make any anti-gay statements himself, so that’s ok. All he did is enact an anti-gay agenda. Words are much more important than actions (sarcasm).