VENUE REFUSES TO HOST LESBIAN WEDDING IN ISRAEL

Tzlil Alush and Amit Lind, a lesbian couple in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, were denied to host their wedding at a privately owned venue. The venue, Hameshek Shel Abba, is located in Tifrah, a moshav or cooperative agricultural community.

Hameshek Shel Abba claimed the local government prohibits queer weddings, but the reigning councils of the region denied any such prohibition, which an employee of the venue cited.

When Alush spoke with a representative of the venue, she specified that the wedding would be between two women and received pushback. The venue claimed it needed permission for every wedding that takes place from the regional religious council.

Alush told Haaretz, “I have no hatred toward anyone, or complaints against [the employee] personally. But there was such a good atmosphere surrounding the conversation, it broke my heart. I realized that this is bigger than one wedding … The system is screwed up.”

Current Israeli law prohibits businesses that provide public services from discrimination based on sexuality. Members of the new governing coalition have claimed they seek to change this soon.