Israel’s LGBT community protests for fathers’ surrogacy rights

Protestors shout slogans during a LGBT community members protest against discriminatory surrogate bill in Tel Aviv, Israel July 22, 2018 - REUTERS

• Netanyahu targeted for criticism over new law
• Gay men excluded from surrogacy legislation

JERUSALEM (Reuters): Israel’s LGBT community launched a one-day strike on Sunday, blocking a main thoroughfare in Tel Aviv, in protest over the exclusion of gay men from surrogacy legislation passed last week.

Demonstrators held protests in Israeli cities, including a rally near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem.

Single women and women unable to become pregnant for medical reasons were given the right to apply for State support for surrogacy under the amendment passed by the Israeli Parliament and supported by Netanyahu.

But, Netanyahu backed off an additional amendment, drafted by a member of his Likud party, that would have granted the same right to single fathers and, by extension, gay couples. 

The distinction drawn by the premier, whose coalition includes conservative Jewish parties, touched a nerve in Israel, which does not conduct same-sex marriages but recognises such unions if they are performed abroad.

“Netanyahu’s a homophobe, we’ve come out to the street,” chanted protesters opposite his Jerusalem home. “There is no equality, there’s discrimination. We will topple the Government.”