Picture from Israeli Defense Forces’ Facebook Page to celebrate Pride Month.
Note about Israel:
Israel was one of the first countries to abolish restrictions on openly gay soldiers serving in the military. In 1993 the country adopted a law that prohibits discrimination against gay forces, nearly 20 years ahead of the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” in the United States.
From HuffPost:
As Israeli journalist Yermi Brenner explains, despite the fact that Tel Aviv is known as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world, most Israelis are conservative concerning homosexuality.
Yet despite the military’s liberal policies, a 2011 study showed more than 40 percent of gay and lesbian soldiers in the IDF say they have been harassed because of their sexuality. According to Haaretz, 45 percent of respondents claimed homophobic remarks remained frequent, with soldiers in combat units reporting them more frequently.
(via equalityabovehate)