ILGA World, an international organization that unites LGBT communities around the world, announced that it had suspended Israel’s bid to host its conference in 2026 and suspended the country’s membership indefinitely. The decision also resulted in the exclusion of Israeli LGBT representatives from the organization’s activities.
In a statement, ILGA World noted that the very proposal to hold the conference in Tel Aviv had provoked “negative reactions and deep indignation” among members of the organization. ILGA admitted its mistake and apologized to the community, adding that its decision was based on provisions of the charter that previously applied to South Africa during apartheid.
“ILGA World leadership is reviewing the compatibility of the Israeli association with our constitution and has decided to suspend membership in the organization to allow for a review,” the organization said in a statement.
In response to this decision, the coalition of African human rights organizations AHRC announced its withdrawal from ILGA in protest. AHRC representatives noted:
“We believe there is no place for Israeli organizations or Israel to be isolated, canceled, suspended or alienated due to government actions in this country. If ILGA’s statements and actions were not based on pure anti-Semitism, ILGA would not have acted in the same way or taken the same measures against organizations and countries. Like Russia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, Ghana, Gambia. “Punishing the LGBT community in Israel is not the way ILGA should do it.”
Israel, as the only country supporting LGBT rights in the Middle East region, regularly faces condemnation in global anti-Israel demonstrations where LGBT flags are displayed but brutal measures against the LGBT community in countries such as the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip are ignored. .
“Cursor” also reported that the human rights organization “New Tolerance Campaign” (NTC) wants to provide assistance in allocating one million dollars to any LGBT organization that agrees to hold a gay pride parade in the Gaza Strip, as well as in Judea and Samaria.
