Haaretz
Mental health experts, educators and members of Israel’s gay community are protesting the use in the mental health curriculum in a number of academic institutions of a textbook they say presents anti-homosexual positions. The most recent edition of “Prakim nivharim b’psichiatria” (“Select Chapters in Psychiatry”) was published in 2010 and is part of the curriculum in universities, colleges and teachers’ colleged. An Internet petition circulated by the book’s detractors demands its removal from the curriculum of clinical programs unless and until its position on homosexuality is revised. A day after the petition was posted it had more than 500 signatures.

One of the book’s chapters states that homosexuality is a personal choice and claims that the theory of Charles Socarides, according to which homosexuality is an emotional disorder that can be cured through therapy, is “the most accepted approach today.” The chapter was written by Prof. Shmuel Tiano, former director of the Geha Psychiatric Hospital in Petah Tikva.
Published 00:30 26.12.11
Latest update 00:30 26.12.11

Israeli textbook slammed for calling homosexuality a disorder
Online petition demanding book’s removal unless its position on homosexuality is revised receives over 500 signatures within day of being posted.
By Ilan Lior Tags: Israel education

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Mental health experts, educators and members of Israel’s gay community are protesting the use in the mental health curriculum in a number of academic institutions of a textbook they say presents anti-homosexual positions. The most recent edition of “Prakim nivharim b’psichiatria” (“Select Chapters in Psychiatry”) was published in 2010 and is part of the curriculum in universities, colleges and teachers’ colleged. An Internet petition circulated by the book’s detractors demands its removal from the curriculum of clinical programs unless and until its position on homosexuality is revised. A day after the petition was posted it had more than 500 signatures.

One of the book’s chapters states that homosexuality is a personal choice and claims that the theory of Charles Socarides, according to which homosexuality is an emotional disorder that can be cured through therapy, is “the most accepted approach today.” The chapter was written by Prof. Shmuel Tiano, former director of the Geha Psychiatric Hospital in Petah Tikva.
Gay pride – Olivier Fitoussi – July 28, 2011

Participants of the gay pride parade in Jerusalem, July 28, 2011
Photo by: Olivier Fitoussi

Tiano describes homosexuality as a “symptom,” and that psychotherapy can bring about the integration of “this borderline personality” and “the disappearance of the symptom.” It also described homosexuality and transgender identity among children as a “disorder” that should be treated to enable children to develop “normal sexual development.”

In conversation with Haaretz, Tiano said the chapter is a historical survey and does not represent current thinking on the issues.

Eight years ago Gidi Rubinstein, a psychotherapist who teaches at the Netanya Academic College and whose clinical practice specializes in gay and bisexual clients, published an article in the column in the gay and lesbian monthly “Hazman Havarod” criticizing the book. Tiano contacted him to discuss his concerns. Rubinstein said he expected his objections would be addressed in the 2010 edition but they were not.

Rubinstein was particularly critical of the platform he said the book gives to the views of Socarides. Tiano said the characterizations of homosexuality as a “disorder” or “symptom” in the chapter are simply descriptions of obsolete views. “I explicitly wrote in the chapter that it is not a disorder.”

“In its current edition, the chapter on homosexuality not only constitutes a declaration of homophobia, but it educates future therapists and educators to be homophobic,” Rubinstein said. The fact that the book is published by a university press, Dyonon, and that it was compiled by four leading figures in the psychiatry field gives the book added importance. Avi Chamo, the CEO of Dyonon said he was proud of the book, which is in its fifth edition and is a bestseller. He said the book was designed to survey a range of views and promote academic discourse.

“There is a word or two that needs to be proofread,” Tiano acknowledged. “In advance of the next edition of the book, I commit to carry out additional proofreading and to change the two or three words that have to be changed in the chapter.”

‘Unfortunate’

Chen Langer of the Israeli National LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Task Force, known as the Aguda, said: “It is unfortunate that a book is taught in Israeli universities that still defines, whether intentionally, unintentionally or out of negligence, any sexual orientation as a medical diagnosis in and of itself that requires ‘diagnosis’ or, God help us, any kind of ‘treatment.’ Langer said the Aguda wants the Council for Higher Education to order the book’s immediate removal from university and college reading lists and libraries.

Chamo said in a response that the book’s title, “Select Chapters in Psychiatry,” indicates its contents – a “review of myriad theories in theoretical and clinical psychiatry. In my humble opinion, professionals in the fields of education, mental health, social work and academia (as the petition’s signers claim to be) should be familiar with all the existing theories” in order to promote professional discussion and enable clients to make educated decisions about their treatment.” Chamo said Dyonon would refer any professional errors to the authors and make corrections as needed.

The Council for Higher Education said in a response that under the provisions of the laws governing academic freedom the individual academic institutions, not the council, decide on which texts they teach.

The Atlantic

Israelis are justifiably proud of their country’s record on gay rights, especially when that record is compared to that of its neighbors. This Israeli pride is too much for anti-Israel activists to bear, including one who on the Times op-ed page today accuses Israel of “pinkwashing” its real human rights record.

My in-box is filled with outraged responses from gays and lesbians (most, though not all, Jewish). Here is one response from a person who has been active in the gay rights movement who is an acquaintance of mine:
It’s astonishing that someone would reduce the very visible presence of gay men and women in Israel, and their enfranchisement as members of the community in good standing as a mere public relations ploy.  And not least because Jews have played an instrumental role in the struggle to secure those rights, in the U.S. and in Israel.  It is part of Jewish culture’s DNA to champion the cause of minorities, not a stratagem cooked up by some PR firm, as Israel’s inveterate adversaries on the Left would have people believe.  History shows as much, and certainly with respect to homosexuality.

Moreover, for someone putatively on the Left, the writer is doing harm to her own professed interests.  Is she suggesting that a country shouldn’t be proud of its record of championing a progressive cause, or cite it as evidence of the enlightened nature of its politics?  And is she really unwilling to affirm those achievements?  Does she begrudge Israel any praise for establishing a haven for those rights in a region not widely recognized for its hospitality to minorities?

She describes gay rights in Israel as an incomplete picture of civil rights in the country, which is fair enough, though as usual, it doesn’t acknowledge the arduous efforts of Netanyahu’s recent predecessors to grant the Palestinians almost all of what they purport to want.  But its not in the nature of politics to be perfect, especially with regard to minority rights.  It is always a struggle to build something inherently fragile in the face of a constant war of attrition against an often unyielding majority.  If the Left is not willing acknowledge the tangible differences between Israel’s treatment of its gay citizens and the persecution gay and lesbians face in many of the neighboring countries, and to throw its support to Israel, then it is risking seeing those hard-won gains evaporate.

She should be careful what she wishes for.

e-ilico
Bertrand Delanoë, maire de Paris, parraine une initiative inédite et très symbolique : trois associations françaises culturelles et confessionnelles regroupant des personnes homosexuelles – Beit Haverim (groupe juif gay et lesbien), David et Jonathan (mouvement homosexuel chrétien) et HM2F (homosexuels musulmans de France) – organisent du 6 au 13 novembre prochain un voyage commun en Israël et en Palestine dans un objectif de solidarité avec les mouvements locaux de lutte contre l’homophobie.

Ces associations présenteront, vendredi 14 octobre à l’Hôtel de Ville de Paris, leur initiative.

Haaretz.com

Two leaders of Barcelona’s gay community claim that they were subjected to a humiliating security check at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, while trying to leave the country after participating in last week’s Tel Aviv gay pride parade.

The conduct of security at the airport has set off a firestorm with the Foreign Ministry, which had extended an official invitation to the pair to participate in Israel’s gay pride activities.

	Dancers onboard a Lady Gaga-themed float at the annual Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade, June 10, 2011.
	Photo by: Moti Kimche

David Marti, the general manager for gay pride events in Barcelona, told Haaretz that airport security had stripped his boyfriend whom he was traveling with. The pair were asked a series of personal questions, which Marti said exceeded reasonable limits. The men’s personal items were also thoroughly searched.

Marti said the pair was questioned for a long time, with their security check ending just minutes before their plane took off. Marti and his partner managed to make it to their flight at the last minute.

The positive impression that the pair had of Israel after their visit was erased by the security check, Marti said. He indicated that he understands Israel’s need to carry out strict security checks, but he says that the person checking him his partner went overboard.

The gay community leaders came to Tel Aviv in a show of support after their counterparts in Madrid cancelled last year’s visit because of the events surrounding Israel’s raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

The pair informed the Israeli Embassy in Madrid about the incident. The embassy told the Foreign Ministry about the complaint, saying that the security check had damaged Israeli public relations efforts.

“Security personnel at the airport need to understand that they are the face of the State of Israel,” a foreign ministry authority said about the incident. “They are the first and last thing that people who come to Israel see.”

Speaking about Marti and his partner, the official called them “guests of the state” adding that “all of their details had been passed from the foreign ministry to the airport in advance.”

“The security inspector severely harmed Israel’s image,” the official said.

The official explained that the ministry had invested thousands of dollars to bring these community leaders to Israel, who were “impressed by the country.”

“The last thing that we do to them is abuse them and they say that they don’t want to come back again,” the official said.

The Israel Airports Authority said in response that they had not received any knowledge, as of the morning in question, of the incident occurring.

“Security personnel at Ben Gurion International Airport work day and night for the security of the passengers,” the Airport Authority statement said, adding that the security personnel treat all passengers the same, regardless of their sexual orientation or beliefs.