Since 2012, the Nir Katz Reporting Center has been dedicated to monitoring, documenting, and addressing incidents of LGBTQ-phobic harm against the LGBTQ community in Israel. This year, we proudly present the 11th LGBTQ-phobia Status Report, which details the state of LGBTQ-phobia in 2023 as reported to our center.

This year’s report is particularly significant, as it was issued during an unprecedented emergency in Israel. The report is divided into two sections: the first outlines LGBTQ-phobic incidents in 2023 before the onset of the war, while the second examines the situation of LGBTQ individuals during the first three months of the conflict. The findings reveal a troubling trend: 2023 was a particularly challenging year for the LGBTQ community in Israel, with a marked increase in reports of LGBTQ-phobia, exacerbated by LGBTQ-phobic rhetoric from elected officials and attempts to implement anti-LGBTQ policies.

During the war, an alarming pattern emerged. Cross-referencing data from the Israeli Institute for Gender and LGBTQ Studies with reports of LGBTQ-phobic attacks submitted to our center, we found that while LGBTQ individuals faced increased hostility, they reported these incidents significantly less often. We hypothesize that this discrepancy stems from a lack of social legitimacy and feelings of personal guilt associated with expressing LGBTQ identity during a national crisis when all of Israeli society is suffering.

This past year has underscored that the LGBTQ community is an integral and vital part of Israeli society. Yet, the path to full social, occupational, and civil equality remains long, and we are committed to continuing our efforts until these goals are achieved.