Over 200 members of Israel’s LGBT community protested in Jerusalem on Saturday evening, days after the Knesset voted against five bills that would improve LGBT rights in Israel.
The Knesset vote on Wednesday — 24 hours after parliament marked an LGBT rights day for the first time rejected bills which sought to recognize same-sex spouses of fallen IDF soldiers, introduce civil unions, ban conversion therapy for minors, and require medical professionals to study gender and sexual orientation prior to receiving their licenses. The proposals were all opposed by the coalition.
The Zionist Union party condemned the Knesset for rejecting the bills a day after LGBT rights day, and accused the government of hypocrisy.
“It turns out the coalition merely uses the members of the LGBT community for public relations, and in the moment of truth opposes all the laws benefiting it,” the statement read.