To contact our legal department, please email legal@joh.org.il

It was only in 1988 that the criminal prohibition against homosexuality was abolished in Israel. Sincethen, significant legislation has been enacted in many different areas to create legal equality forLGBTQ individuals.

But despite legislative changes and growing public support for equal rights, harassment and hate crimesarising from prejudice are still a common occurrence in Israel – from daily cases of discriminationin society and the workplace, to violent riots in Orthodox neighborhoods over gay pride parades, tooutrageous acts such as the stabbing at Jerusalem Pride 2005 and the fatal shooting at a Tel Aviv gayand lesbian center in 2009.

This is proof that a broad legal infrastructure protecting LGBTQ rights is not sufficient: real changemust come from law enforcement, and from a wider public understanding in Israel that a person'ssexual and gender identity should not be subject to criticism or discrimination in any form.

The Jerusalem Open House is initiating a project which offers legal services to anyone who has beendiscriminated against, harassed, or attacked for reasons relating to their sexual or gender identity. Wewill examine what legal actions are appropriate and offer legal advice for each case. We promise to doeverything we can to assist all applicants.