Israel elects first openly gay man to Knesset

[Jingthing]

It's a milestone for any country when it first elects an open GLBT person to a high political office.

In Israel Amir Ohana (ironically last name so close to Obama and also with roots in Africa) ran from the primary level as openly gay.

Ohana is a member of the right wing Likud party.

But what's fascinating about this video is that the leaders of two major parties, Likud on the right and the Zionist Union on the center left argue over which party deserves credit for an openly gay man being elected at the primary level.

That shows that GLBT civil rights has good support across the political spectrum. Something you can't say for all countries, even those further along in GLBT civil rights than Israel:

Edited January 1, 2016 by Jingthing

[Scott]

A nice move in the part of the world not noted for progressiveness.

[Jingthing]

In his speech Ohana says homo for gay.

Apparently there is no Hebrew origin word for gay.

I assume there are Hebrew slur words though for it.

So in Hebrew you would say homo or gay. I don't know the significance if any of why he said homo instead of gay.

In American English right wing politicians will often refuse to use the word gay and say homosexual instead with a clear political subtext. But there is really nothing wrong with the word homosexual.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Jingthing

[onthemoon]

There is nothing wrong with the words homo or hetero, I use them myself.

Germany had an openly gay Minister of Foreign Affairs until a few years ago. And has had gay mayors for decades.

Edited January 2, 2016 by onthemoon