MK Yair Lapid Accuses Population Authority of Discriminating Against LGBTQ Parents in Digital Services
MK Yair Lapid has raised concerns about alleged discrimination against LGBTQ parents by the Population and Immigration Authority in Israel. In a formal complaint sent to Interior Ministry Director-General Israel Ozen, Lapid highlighted that non-biological parents, despite being legally registered, face obstacles when updating their children's address online. These parents are often required to appear in person at Population Authority offices, unlike biological parents who can complete the process digitally.
Lapid shared his personal experience of being blocked from updating his daughter's address online, emphasizing that there is no legal or factual justification to differentiate between biological and non-biological parents when both are legally recognized. He criticized the authority for maintaining a classification system that distinguishes between parent types and questioned the legal basis for restricting services to non-biological parents.
He also cited cases where children did not appear in the non-biological parent's resident file, hindering their ability to perform essential actions such as kindergarten registration. Lapid condemned the policy as institutionalized homophobia and discrimination, calling it a "spit in the face" of the LGBTQ community. He demanded the immediate removal of such distinctions, equal treatment for all parents, and a timeline for implementing these changes.
The Population and Immigration Authority responded by asserting its commitment to providing equal and full services to all citizens registered as parents. They acknowledged technical issues in the digital system are being addressed in cooperation with the National Digital Division and encouraged individuals facing difficulties to seek assistance through official channels.
Lapid vowed that the current government’s discriminatory policies would end with the next administration, promising to eradicate such practices from public services and legislate full equality for all families in Israel.
