Lilith
11-05-2002, 07:00 PM
Chris McGreal in Tel Aviv
Tuesday November 5, 2002
The Guardian
It is a peculiarity of Israeli society that it is far easier to be gay in its army than in the parliament.
Gay soldiers have Uzi Even to thank for that. The former military intelligence colonel, who spent 20 years working as a scientist on Israel's secret nuclear bomb until he was discovered to be living with a male lover, single-handedly saw to it that equal rights were extended to gays in the army.
These days, there is even a popular movie doing the rounds of cinemas about two homosexual soldiers teaming up to fight terrorism.
Yesterday, Uzi Even, 62, stormed another barricade when he was sworn in as the first openly gay member of the knesset, representing the leftwing party Meretz. He does not expect an easy time of it from more Orthodox members.
"I've had verbal abuse from some members," he said. "Five years ago they used a biblical admonition that gays should all be put to death. Now they talk about homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder. They've already made a huge leap of 2000 years into the 19th century, so with a little push... "
The ultra-religious are particularly scornful of Mr Even.
"His way of life is repugnant and should be rejected with disgust," said Nissim Zeev, an MP for Shas, the biggest ultra-Orthodox party. "He stands for the destruction of the family unit. He is a danger to morals."
It used to be that way in the army.
"In 1967 I started working at the nuclear research centre at Dimona," Mr Even said. "I was doing that for 20 years and then there was a routine security check and my neighbours told them I was living with a man. Suddenly being told I was good for nothing, we don't want you, was a big shock."
Mr Even was stripped of his military rank and his security clearance. He went to Tel Aviv University as a professor of physical chemistry, but five years later found himself telling his story to a knesset committee.
When he was in the army, homosexuality carried a 10-year prison sentence; that law was changed in 1988.
However, the official excuse for his sacking was that he was open to blackmail. "There hasn't been a single case of spying where someone was blackmailed because they were gay," Mr Even said. "All the spies have been straight, and there have been a few of those."
Yitzhak Rabin was prime minister. He called in Mr Even and offered to reinstate him. Mr Even said he did not want to go back to his old job, but did want an end to the persecution of gays in the military. The rules were changed in 1993 to bar discrimination in the army against homosexuals in all areas, including recruitment and promotion.
The military was more open to change than many institutions, because ultra-Orthodox Jews refuse to serve in it. Bringing change to the law through the knesset will prove more difficult.
As things stand, individual rights for gays are protected. They cannot be discriminated against at work, for instance. But the law does not recognise same-sex couples, and Mr Even wants that changed.
"My partner of 16 years has no legal status," he said. "We adopted a child, but it was only because I had such stature. I sued the university for spousal rights and won. But why should we go to the courts every time we want something everyone else gets."
Tuesday November 5, 2002
The Guardian
It is a peculiarity of Israeli society that it is far easier to be gay in its army than in the parliament.
Gay soldiers have Uzi Even to thank for that. The former military intelligence colonel, who spent 20 years working as a scientist on Israel's secret nuclear bomb until he was discovered to be living with a male lover, single-handedly saw to it that equal rights were extended to gays in the army.
These days, there is even a popular movie doing the rounds of cinemas about two homosexual soldiers teaming up to fight terrorism.
Yesterday, Uzi Even, 62, stormed another barricade when he was sworn in as the first openly gay member of the knesset, representing the leftwing party Meretz. He does not expect an easy time of it from more Orthodox members.
"I've had verbal abuse from some members," he said. "Five years ago they used a biblical admonition that gays should all be put to death. Now they talk about homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder. They've already made a huge leap of 2000 years into the 19th century, so with a little push... "
The ultra-religious are particularly scornful of Mr Even.
"His way of life is repugnant and should be rejected with disgust," said Nissim Zeev, an MP for Shas, the biggest ultra-Orthodox party. "He stands for the destruction of the family unit. He is a danger to morals."
It used to be that way in the army.
"In 1967 I started working at the nuclear research centre at Dimona," Mr Even said. "I was doing that for 20 years and then there was a routine security check and my neighbours told them I was living with a man. Suddenly being told I was good for nothing, we don't want you, was a big shock."
Mr Even was stripped of his military rank and his security clearance. He went to Tel Aviv University as a professor of physical chemistry, but five years later found himself telling his story to a knesset committee.
When he was in the army, homosexuality carried a 10-year prison sentence; that law was changed in 1988.
However, the official excuse for his sacking was that he was open to blackmail. "There hasn't been a single case of spying where someone was blackmailed because they were gay," Mr Even said. "All the spies have been straight, and there have been a few of those."
Yitzhak Rabin was prime minister. He called in Mr Even and offered to reinstate him. Mr Even said he did not want to go back to his old job, but did want an end to the persecution of gays in the military. The rules were changed in 1993 to bar discrimination in the army against homosexuals in all areas, including recruitment and promotion.
The military was more open to change than many institutions, because ultra-Orthodox Jews refuse to serve in it. Bringing change to the law through the knesset will prove more difficult.
As things stand, individual rights for gays are protected. They cannot be discriminated against at work, for instance. But the law does not recognise same-sex couples, and Mr Even wants that changed.
"My partner of 16 years has no legal status," he said. "We adopted a child, but it was only because I had such stature. I sued the university for spousal rights and won. But why should we go to the courts every time we want something everyone else gets."