Tehila
Encyclopedia
Tehila is a mutual support group in Israel
for parents of gay, lesbian
, bisexual and transgender
people. The organizations activities include operating support group
s, telephone help lines, and a website, as well as publishing and distributing supportive information.
The organization is based on the principles of and is very similar to the American organization PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
.
, and founded by mothers Devorah Luz, Mali ירוס, and two other mothers. Initially, the organization met once a month in Tel Aviv
. Later on, additional meetings were made elsewhere in the country.
Currently, the head of the organization is Ayala Katz, whose 26-year old son Nir was shot to death during the tragic shooting at Bar-Noar LGBT-club on August 1, 2009.
She was preceded by Yael Agmon who took over the job from Hannah Agmon. Before Hannah Agmon, the head of the organization was for many years Devorah Luz, who authored together with Sarah Avni the book, "Mom, I've Got Something To Tell You: Parents and Their Children Come Out of The Closet" , (Shufra LeSifrut Yafah, 2000), to deal with the topic of LGBT and parenthood.
Parents, brothers, sisters, and also the children themselves wanting to support their parents come to the meetings. The organization also works in participation with the rest of the LGBT community organizations.
Ehud Olmert
, President
Moshe Katsav
, and Minister of Education Yuli Tamir
, demanding they work to reduce homophobia in society. The President responded to the organization, and published an announcement in support of the goals of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and calling for tolerance towards sexual minorities. The Minister of Education promised a stage in the Knesset for the bringing in of content into the education system.
Representatives from Tehila have participated in the Tel Aviv Pride Parade for several years, and in 2009, were chosen to lead the parade.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for parents of gay, lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, bisexual and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
people. The organizations activities include operating support group
Support group
In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic...
s, telephone help lines, and a website, as well as publishing and distributing supportive information.
The organization is based on the principles of and is very similar to the American organization PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is a socio-political group of family members and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Its mission statement describes the goals of PFLAG as promoting health and well being of LGBT persons as well as actively supporting...
.
History
Tehila was founded in 1989, by the initiative of Jonathan DanilowitzJonathan Danilowitz
Jonathan Danilowitz worked as a Senior In Flight Service Manager for El Al Israel Airlines, based in Tel Aviv.When the airline refused to recognize his same-sex partner as his common-law spouse he sued the airline...
, and founded by mothers Devorah Luz, Mali ירוס, and two other mothers. Initially, the organization met once a month in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. Later on, additional meetings were made elsewhere in the country.
Currently, the head of the organization is Ayala Katz, whose 26-year old son Nir was shot to death during the tragic shooting at Bar-Noar LGBT-club on August 1, 2009.
She was preceded by Yael Agmon who took over the job from Hannah Agmon. Before Hannah Agmon, the head of the organization was for many years Devorah Luz, who authored together with Sarah Avni the book, "Mom, I've Got Something To Tell You: Parents and Their Children Come Out of The Closet" , (Shufra LeSifrut Yafah, 2000), to deal with the topic of LGBT and parenthood.
Parents, brothers, sisters, and also the children themselves wanting to support their parents come to the meetings. The organization also works in participation with the rest of the LGBT community organizations.
Goals
- To support the parents and siblings of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered, who find it difficult to accept their children, or suffer social stigmas associated with this community.
- Fight stigma against the LGBT community, especially with young people in the school environment.
- Stop stereotypes associated with the LGBT community.
Public work
On the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, in 2006, the organization sent letters to Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, as a Cabinet Minister from 1988 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006, and as Mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003....
, President
President of Israel
The President of the State of Israel is the head of state of Israel. The position is largely an apolitical ceremonial figurehead role, with the real executive power lying in the hands of the Prime Minister. The current president is Shimon Peres who took office on 15 July 2007...
Moshe Katsav
Moshe Katsav
Moshe Katsav is an Israeli politician. He served as the eighth President of Israel, a leading Likud member of the Israeli Knesset, and a Cabinet Minister in its government....
, and Minister of Education Yuli Tamir
Yuli Tamir
Yael "Yuli" Tamir is an Israeli academic and former politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party between 2003 and 2010, and as Minister of Immigrant Absorption and Education.-Biography:...
, demanding they work to reduce homophobia in society. The President responded to the organization, and published an announcement in support of the goals of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and calling for tolerance towards sexual minorities. The Minister of Education promised a stage in the Knesset for the bringing in of content into the education system.
Representatives from Tehila have participated in the Tel Aviv Pride Parade for several years, and in 2009, were chosen to lead the parade.