Avner Even-Zohar has successfully combined two worlds that rarely mix: military work and gay rights activism. Now he shares his story with college students across the country.
Even-Zohar led a discussion titled “The Queer Liberation Movement in Israel” at UF Hillel on Thursday night. About 50 people attended the discussion, which focused on building bridges between the Jewish community and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
The decorated Israeli Defense Force veteran wasn’t always open about his sexuality. During his six years of service, Even-Zohar concealed his sexuality out of fear of being demoted or discharged like some of his fellow officers.
Even-Zohar’s military service ended in 1993, the same year Israel declared openly gay soldiers could serve without facing discrimination.
“Tel Aviv is a beacon of light for the gay rights movement in the Middle East,” he said in regard to Israel’s second most-populous city. “The laws our parliament has passed are leading the way for other countries to follow.”
However, many Middle Eastern countries have not yet followed suit. During his presentation, Even-Zohar showed photographs of public hangings of gays in Iran and discussed the oppression of women in Saudi Arabia.
He said his stories are the reason he’s touring colleges to promote activism and encourage students to defend their convictions.
“Hillel constantly has speakers coming, but this event was different,” political science sophomore Taylor Parker, 19, said. “He broke boundaries of what we in America have accepted as the norm and made us look at gay rights in a completely different light.”
Even-Zohar told the audience that part of every success is failure.
“I like to focus on the positives, but both Israel and the U.S. have a long way to go,” he said. “However, as long as there are inspired and empowered minds in the soul of youth, there can be change.”
