Feeling overwhelmed with information? We’re here to help cut through the noise. Learn the most common questions about Israel — along with the accurate information to address them through dialogue and discussion:
Why is Israel sometimes accused of “pinkwashing”?
Anti-Israel activists sometimes accuse Israel of “pinkwashing,” which alleges that Israel highlights its progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights in order to distract from its treatment of Palestinians. Critics argue — without evidence — that Israel uses its strong LGBTQ+ rights record as a way to improve its image internationally and deflect criticism of its policies toward Palestinians.
LGBTQ+ rights in Israel are considered to be among the most progressive in the Middle East. Homosexuality was decriminalized in Israel in 1988, and since then, the country has taken significant steps to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Same-sex couples in Israel have been able to adopt children since 2006. And Tel Aviv is well-known for hosting one of the largest annual Pride parades in the world. However, while Israel is the only country in the Middle East that recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other countries, same-sex couples cannot yet legally marry in Israel.
Israel’s LGBTQ+ rights records stand in stark contrast to that of many other countries and territories in the Middle East, where homosexuality is considered a criminal offense — in some cases even punishable by death. In some Middle Eastern countries like Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon, LGBTQ+ citizens exist in a legal gray area, with homosexuality neither explicitly criminalized nor protected by law. In 2023, in a televised speech in Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah told viewers that “sodomy” should be punishable by death, urged followers to boycott businesses with Pride flags, and alleged that the United States that the United States was spearheading a campaign to change curriculums around the world to “promote a culture of homosexuality in schools and universities.”