Thoughts on Pride and Progress

When Israeli NGOs talk about Pride and LGBTQ+ rights, they are often accused of practicing Pinkwashing - hiding Israel's flaws behind the successes of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. While we loathe Pinkwashing and believe we must address Israel's flaws directly (as you'll see in the following lines), ignoring the hard-earned milestones of the Pride movement erases the lived experiences of hundreds of thousands of Israelis.

As Pride Month begins, rainbow flags once again line the streets of countless communities across Israel. Pride celebrations are often moments of joy and solidarity, an opportunity to celebrate hard-won achievements and the remarkable progress that has been made over decades of activism toward a society that lives up to the promise enshrined in our Declaration of Independence: ensuring equality for all its citizens.

Pride in Tel Aviv. Pride is more than just about celebrating victories, it is also about committing to finish the work that remains unfinished.

Israel has much to be proud of. In a region where LGBTQ+ people often face severe discrimination, criminalization, and violence, Israel has emerged as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly countries in the Middle East. Even in the face of anti-liberal forces in Israel, same-sex couples enjoy legal protections, and 74% of Israelis support full equality for LGBTQ+. LGBTQ+ Israelis serve openly in the military, participate fully in public life, and are represented in politics, media, culture, and business. Tel Aviv has become one of the world's leading Pride destinations, attracting visitors from across the globe.

Israel, like every democracy, is a work in progress. The State of Israel was founded on a bold promise in the Declaration of Independence, yet it was never a declaration that the work had been completed, but a declaration of aspiration - a North Star, a statement of the society Israel seeks to become.

These achievements did not happen by accident. They were won through the efforts of countless activists, grassroots leaders, lawmakers, and ordinary citizens who believed that Israeli democracy should live up to its promise of equality.

But Pride is more than just about celebrating victories. It is also about recognizing that a long road for justice is still ahead. Despite significant progress, LGBTQ+ Israelis still do not enjoy full equality under the law. Israel remains one of the few liberal democracies without civil marriage. Same-sex couples who marry abroad can have their marriages recognized by the state, but they cannot marry in Israel itself.

Let's be clear: this is not merely an LGBTQ+ issue; it reflects a broader failure to guarantee freedom of marriage for all Israelis, regardless of religion, denomination, or sexual orientation.

Adoption rights remain uneven and complicated. Surrogacy, while more accessible than in the past, continues to involve legal and financial barriers that disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ families. Too many couples still face unnecessary obstacles when trying to build a family and secure equal recognition for their children.

And, of course, beyond the legal sphere, social challenges remain. Homophobia and transphobia have not disappeared. LGBTQ+ youth continue to face bullying, with "homo" remaining one of the most commonly used slurs in schools. Many transgender Israelis still encounter barriers in employment, healthcare, and housing. The tragic history of violence against LGBTQ+ Israelis, as well as government attempts to undermine their rights, serves as a reminder that progress should never be taken for granted.

Israel's Declaration of Independence committed the country to "complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race, or sex." A declaration of aspiration - a North Star, a statement of the society Israel seeks to become.

The struggle for equality is therefore not over. Pride Month should inspire us not only to celebrate how far we have come, but also to recommit ourselves to the work ahead.

At LIBRAEL, we believe this lesson extends beyond LGBTQ+ rights. Israel, like every democracy, is a work in progress. The State of Israel was founded on a bold promise: the Declaration of Independence committed the country to "complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race, or sex."

That's the premise of liberal Zionism. That is the spirit of Pride. It is the belief that progress is possible, that rights can be expanded, and that while imperfect countries may never become perfect, they can, through hard work, become better.

That vision remains one of the most inspiring documents in Israel's history. Yet it was never a declaration that the work had been completed. It was a declaration of aspiration - a North Star, a statement of the society Israel seeks to become.

Seventy-eight years later, we can point to extraordinary achievements. Israel has built a vibrant democracy, a dynamic economy, and a thriving civil society under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. But we must also be honest about the gaps that remain between our ideals and our reality: huge social and economic disparities between the center and the periphery, racism and marginalization toward Israeli Arabs, a lack of freedom of religion, and, of course, a long and twisted road toward peace.

The answer is not giving up on the promise of Israel, a millennia-long dream for millions of Jews. It is believing that our country can do better and working to make it better.

That's the premise of liberal Zionism. That is the spirit of Pride. It is the belief that progress is possible, that rights can be expanded, that societies can become more just, more equal, and more inclusive, and that while imperfect countries may never become perfect, they can, through hard work, become better.

This Pride Month, we should celebrate the achievements of Israel's LGBTQ+ community and the many allies who helped make them possible. But we should also recognize that the journey is not complete. The task before us is to continue pushing Israel closer to the values we hold dear: peace, justice, and human rights.

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