Members of the LGBTIQ community in Israel are planning a nationwide strike for this Sunday, responding to an updated law denying state-supported surrogacy to gay couples and single men.
The law had previously denied surrogacy to all those not in a heterosexual couple, but was this week updated to give eligibility to single women, reports .
Israel’s LGBT Task Force, the Aguda, wrote in a that it was the community's "turn to say no.”
“The gay community is going on strike!" the post read.
"Lesbian women cannot register their children, transgender people are getting stabbed in the street, youths are experiencing LGBT-phobia in educational frameworks, the Knesset passes laws against equality – we will not continue our lives as usual, we will not allow bullying against the transgender community, the youths of the LGBT community and its members in the peripheries."
The post continued: “It’s time to take off the gloves! For the first time in the history of the struggle, the gay community declares a strike!"
The post shared by LGBT group The Aguda. Source: Facebook
"The excuses and smears will not work on us anymore. It’s a backward retreat and it’s dangerous!
“The LGBT community is calling upon you, the LGBT and community supporters, to join us in a one-day nationwide strike on Sunday, July 22, Tisha Be’av.”
Dozens of companies have come out in support of the strike.
Jeremy Seeff, founder of the Israeli Diversity Standard charter, told the that it was encouraging to see such a strong response from the corporate world.
“Though our legislature is failing us by adopting an unjust, discriminatory and illogical law specifically excluding single men and gay couples from exercising their rights to family life, we are encouraged to see so many amazing companies taking a stand and leading the way, in place of an unconscionable government,” Seef said.
He continued: “Natural Intelligence, Microsoft, IBM, Mellanox, SimilarWeb, Meitav Dash and a growing list of companies are making it clear that this discrimination, like so many other discriminatory practices in Israel, are unjust and bad for business but that the corporate world will be at the forefront of making a positive change.”
Facebook Israel and SodaStream have also expressed their support of the strike.
