An Israeli memorial dedicated to the LGBT+ victims of the Holocaust has been defaced in Tel Aviv. Vandals spray-painted the words “Death to LGBT” on part of the memorial.
The memorial, which was completed in 2014, bears the following inscription:
“In memory of those persecuted by the Nazi regime for their sexual orientation and gender identity.”
The memorial is in the shape of a pink triangle, to represent the pink triangle LGBT+ people were forced to wear in concentration camps during World War Two. LGBT+ people were one of the many groups persecuted by the Nazi regime. It is estimated that up to 100,000 gay men were arrested in Nazi Germany, and up to 15,000 of those were incarcerated in concentration camps throughout Europe.
The graffiti has since been removed.
Tel Aviv’s mayor Ron Huldai took to Facebook to condemn the vandalism as he ordered for its immediate removal:
“I condemn the vandalism of a memorial to members of the gay community who perished in the Holocaust.
“I have issued instructions to immediately erase the graffiti.”
Six hours after his initial post, Huldai shared an image of the same memorial, now rid of the homophobic message, with the caption “Taken care of.”
The mayor used his platform to assure Israel’s LGBT+ citizens protection ahead of the country’s controversial plans to host next year’s Eurovision:
“We will continue to act and protect members of the community as we have done so far.”
The chairperson for Tel Aviv’s Municipal LGBT Community Centre released a statement to reassure Israel’s LGBT+ community:
“I am in the heart of the city, in the Meir Garden near the Pride centre I built a decade ago. We will not give up our rights, we will continue to fight for our security and equality.”
As it stands, LGBT+ people in Israel are protected from discrimination by specific legislation. Transgender people are permitted to change their legal gender and while same-sex marriages cannot be performed in the country, Israel recognises same-sex marriages conducted overseas. Additionally, Tel Aviv boasts the largest Pride celebration in the Middle East and one of the biggest in the world as it attracts up to 200,000 people each year.
© 2018 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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