THE TOWER
Israel Appoints First Openly Gay Cabinet Minister
by Staff
June 7, 2019

The first openly gay man to become a cabinet minister in Israel was appointed Wednesday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Amir Ohana will act as interim justice minister, following the sacking of the previous office holder, Ayelet Shaked…He is one of several openly gay officials in Israel. Last year, Ra’anana became the first city in Israel to have a gay mayor with the election of Eitan Ginzburg…In most countries in the Middle East, homosexuality either is a crime punishable by death, such as Iran and Yemen, or carries long jail sentences, including in the West Bank and Qatar. Homosexuals are also at risks of violence, torture, and “honor killings” by militias or even their own families. READ MORE