On the eve of Tel Aviv’s Pride Week, Tel Aviv’s International LGBTQ Film Festival (TLVFest) and the broader Israeli LGBTQ community has come under attack from Boycott Divest Sanctions (BDS) activists.
Boycott efforts are nothing other than counterproductive. LGBTQ activists and allies have worked tirelessly around the world to make sure our voices can be heard, and now BDS activists are trying to shut down TLVFest - a platform that promotes open dialogue and exchange of ideas across different groups.
The causes of LGBTQ rights and Israeli-Palestinian peace fundamentally rest in widespread recognition and understanding of the other. This effort by the BDS movement does not further that cause, it harms it. It does not build bridges, it builds walls.
Israel’s vibrant LGBTQ community has worked for decades to promote tolerance and progress in Israeli society. But it is impossible to succeed when artists are censored. And our community cannot effect change if we are silenced.
Our response to these efforts to silence our community is to raise our voice and support Israel’s LGBTQ community.
Double your impact! The first $10,000 raised will be matched dollar for dollar by generous individuals concerned about LGBTQ rights!
A Wider Bridge, an organization of North American LGBTQ people and allies that advocates for equality in Israel, is working to raise $10,000 to support the TLVFest. A Wider Bridge is proud to be a recurring sponsor of TLVFest, and is looking forward to hosting Evan Wolfson and screening the Israeli premiere of Eddie Rosenstein's Documentary, "The Freedom To Marry," on June 8th at the Tel Aviv Cinemateque.
This is a critical moment, and the time to act is now. Support equality in Israel, support the LGBTQ cause.