By JAMIE ROMMgay movie 248.88(photo credit: )
Coming this week to Israeli television screens are 10 films that aim to "Cut Homophobia," which is the name of a film campaign that began two months ago.
Film directors and writers Idan Sagiv Richter and Yair Hochner initiated the campaign, believing that one of the powers of cinema is that it can work to change society.
"The goal of the campaign is ... to express a loud and clear message through art," Sagiv Richter said.
"If Israel wants to be like other advanced nations, it must recognize lesbians, gays and transsexuals in the community from all sectors. They must recognize them as full citizens and must change the marriage and adoption laws to recognize the basic right of every person to start a family and to promote equal opportunities."
This is the next step in the "Cut Homophobia" campaign which began in mid-October at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque with a film festival of 30 clips that was attended by Knesset members, diplomats and members of the film and television industry.
Two months later, the campaign is bringing its message to home television screens. The 10 selected films against homophobia will be broadcast on Channel 1, Channel 2, Channel 23, Channel 24 or can be viewed on demand on Hot VOD and Community Channel 98.
The films were created by members of the gay community, in response to the shooting that killed two people and wounded 12 at a gay youth center in Tel Aviv in August.
Richter said incidents like this could be prevented.
"Society must go out of its way through law enforcement to prevent violence and stop the incitement. It begins with the Knesset and ends on the street with harassment in schools and discrimination in the workplace," Richter said.
"The State of Israel must allow the existence of secure places for those of us whose sexual orientation or gender identity is different - throughout country and not just downtown Tel Aviv."
"Cut Homophobia" is the first campaign of its kind in Israel. The 10 films chosen for the television campaign include: Lena Toral's Wedding, documenting her wedding with her female partner, and We Are All Worthy, a film about picking someone who is gay out of a lineup; Anat Salomon's Coming Out of the Closet monologue about a lesbian who reveals her sexual orientation; I Love by Revital Gal, which documents various types of love between different people; and Let there be Light, a film by Avital Barak and Hila Ben Baruch, on labeling people in the population.
Hochner said that he hopes the films get the message across that being gay is acceptable.
"Youth and their parents will see these films of the campaign, and we hope that it will send a positive message," adds Hochner. "Be who you are, love yourself and they will love you back the way you are."
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