2019 Reports

Pride and the True Colors of the Holy Land: School Climate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students in Israel

Pizmony-Levy, Oren; Rogel, Avner; Shilo, Guy

In conjunction with global efforts, Israel has committed to promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students’ rights to a safe, affirming learning environment. Given Israeli society’s mostly negative perception of homosexuality as well as the growing role of religious parties in the government, the authors question the extent to which this commitment is realized. Using data from the Israeli School Climate Survey conducted in 2016 (n=909), this article documents the school experiences of LGBT students. Findings reveal that LGBT students in Israel occasionally hear homophobic remarks in schools, they experience high levels of victimization (verbal, sexual, and physical), and they report limited access to school-based supports. Moreover, school climate varies across communities in Israel. We argue that by avoiding a centralized effort to address homophobic and transphobic bullying and by allowing communities and schools to lead the way, Israel maintains its international standing while limiting its internal conflict.