- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Recent studies in Israel have revealed a prevalence of resistance towards LGBTQ+ rights.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 10 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Israel.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Israel is legal.
Current status
Since 1963
Legal
LGBT people regardless of gender are allowed to engage in such acts once old enough according to the law.
In 1953 the police was ordered to refrain from enforcing the law against homosexual acts by the Israeli government.
In 1963 Israel's Highest Court decides that individuals who committed consensual homosexual acts privately couldn't be punished and even before that there are no records of punishments by civilian courts against people who committed consensual homosexual acts privately.
The law was officially repealed by the Knesset ( the Israeli Parliament ) in 1988, but it's enforcement was illegal since 1963 in most cases.
In 1953 the police was ordered to refrain from enforcing the law against homosexual acts by the Israeli government.
In 1963 Israel's Highest Court decides that individuals who committed consensual homosexual acts privately couldn't be punished and even before that there are no records of punishments by civilian courts against people who committed consensual homosexual acts privately.
The law was officially repealed by the Knesset ( the Israeli Parliament ) in 1988, but it's enforcement was illegal since 1963 in most cases.
Same-sex marriage in Israel is foreign same-sex marriages recognized only.
Current status
Since Jul 7, 2022
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
In July 2022, the Central District Court declared marriages conducted in Israel through an online civil marriage service established by the U.S. state of Utah, including same-sex unions, as legally valid in Israel. This decision eliminated the necessity for same-sex couples to travel abroad for marriage. The Supreme Court upheld this ruling in 2023, this ruling allowed same sex couples to marry in Israel.
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
Unregistered cohabitation
Israel does not legally recognize same-sex marriage. In Israel, marriage is mostly regulated by religious institutions. However, in 1994 Israel expanded the Legal status of Unregistered Cohabitation to same sex couples, today it works virtually the same way as marriage with a few exceptions. Israel was the first country in Asia to grant such recognition and this legal status is still available to same sex couples.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Israel is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Israel, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Israel is legal, but requires medical diagnosis.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2014
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
The Supreme Court of Justice ruled against the surgical requirement in the case "Ronit Liran-Shaked v. Ministry of Interior" (2014). A new policy was adopted to create an additional committee of psychology and medical professionals to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to allow the alteration of gender markers without surgery.
A special psychological, medical and psychiatric committee decides for each application whether legal gender recognition can be authorised. According to ILGA, it is not clear what specific rules or procedures these committees adopt.
A special psychological, medical and psychiatric committee decides for each application whether legal gender recognition can be authorised. According to ILGA, it is not clear what specific rules or procedures these committees adopt.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Israel is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
The option of legally identifying as a third-gender is not available.
LGBT discrimination in Israel is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1992
Illegal in some contexts
LGBT housing discrimination in Israel is no protections.
Current status
No protections
There are no explicit legal protectios against LGBT discrimination in housing.
Same-sex adoption in Israel is legal.
Current status
Since Dec 28, 2023
Legal
Adoption is legal for same sex couples.
Intersex infant surgery in Israel is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
In 2017, the Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 2017-10. According to ILGA, it states that some intersex variations do not necessarily require medical treatment and declares principles of priority of patient needs. However, the Circular was criticised for using pathologising terminology and failing to ban non-consensual medical interventions on intersex minors.
Serving openly in military in Israel is legal.
Current status
Since 1992
Legal
Homosexuals can serve openly in all branches of the military.
Blood donations by MSMs in Israel is legal.
Current status
Since Oct 2021
Legal
From October 2021, gay and bisexual men can donate blood, regardless of when they last had sex. Israel no longer quarantines MSM blood and treats all donors equally, requiring no extra screening beyond the standard process.
Legal with restrictions
A more complex testing process is in place for MSM donations but you cannot skip this test.
Conversion therapy in Israel is banned.
Current status
Since Feb 14, 2022
Banned
The Health Ministry banned medical professionals from conducting conversion therapy.
Equal age of consent in Israel is equal.
Current status
Since May 14, 1948
Equal
The age of consent in Israel is 16 for male-male, female-female, and male-female sex.
Equality Rank
#25
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Alternative names: Yisra’el/Isra’il (local name)
