Report Details Government's Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies and Funding Cuts

A new report by the Israeli National LGBT Task Force (Aguda) details the policies of the outgoing government towards the LGBTQ+ community over the past four years, highlighting legislative attempts to restrict rights, significant budget reductions for support services, and a decline in access to state services. The report, released ahead of the Knesset elections, also addresses radical statements made by members of the governing coalition.

The Aguda report outlines legislative initiatives, budgetary decisions, and public statements from government officials, describing persistent efforts to limit LGBTQ+ rights. While public protests managed to halt some initiatives, the association warns that even unsuccessful bills could serve as a basis for future legislation. The report examines the coalition's policies since the government's formation in December 2022, asserting that these actions have weakened protections for the LGBTQ+ community and degraded state services, despite some achievements.

Early in the government's term, a coalition agreement included a commitment to amend anti-discrimination laws to allow businesses to refuse service to LGBTQ+ individuals based on religious beliefs. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to prevent such discrimination after public outcry, and the bill was halted, it marked the beginning of a series of anti-LGBTQ+ actions. Subsequent legislative proposals included a bill by MKs Avi Maoz and Limor Son Har-Melech to restrict gender markers on official documents to "biological criteria," potentially preventing transgender individuals from updating their records. Another bill by Avi Maoz proposed banning discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary and middle school grades, with strict limitations for higher grades.

A significant focus of the report is the dramatic reduction in funding. In 2024, the budget for the LGBTQ+ affairs department within the Ministry of Social Equality was cut by approximately 37%, from 38 million shekels to about 24 million. Funding for local government initiatives supporting the LGBTQ+ community also decreased from 21 million to 10 million shekels. The situation worsened in 2025 with the Ministry of Social Equality, then led by MK Mai Golan, unilaterally ending its cooperation with the Aguda, which provided specialized services to LGBTQ+ individuals in the Arab sector, those over 50, and people with disabilities. New agreements with local authorities in September 2023 showed funding cuts exceeding 90% in major municipalities like Haifa and Beersheba, jeopardizing service continuity, particularly for those in peripheral areas or requiring specialized care.

The report also addresses laws not directly targeting the LGBTQ+ community but potentially impacting their rights, such as changes to the Attorney General's authority and expanded powers for rabbinical courts. It notes that many LGBTQ+ rights in Israel rely on judicial precedents and administrative policies, making these changes significant. While several bills aimed at expanding LGBTQ+ rights, including bans on conversion therapy for minors and discrimination in housing, failed to pass, three amendments did expand rights. These included recognizing same-sex partners in laws concerning families of fallen soldiers and hostages, and adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the grounds for non-discrimination under the Student Rights Law. Notably, these advancements were championed by opposition MK Yorai Lahav-Hertzano.

Furthermore, the report details homophobic statements made by coalition members. MK Yitzhak Pindrus compared LGBTQ+ Israelis to ISIS, Hezbollah, and Hamas, advocating for their eradication. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated his supporters were indifferent to LGBTQ+ issues, implying no political repercussions for anti-LGBTQ+ measures. Justice Minister Yariv Levin deemed a bill against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination "unnecessary and even harmful." The report highlights that only three of the 120 Knesset members openly identify as LGBTQ+, and no ministers in the 37th government did so. Aguda Chairman Nimrod Gornstein stated that the community repeatedly faced attempts to restrict rights and services, and while public and organizational efforts stopped many initiatives, the upcoming election will determine the community's future. The Ministry of Social Equality did not comment on the report's findings.