Freak Flag: Israel's secret & sordid gay spots

Contents:

• THE GAY-FRIENDLIT CI ISRAEL
• IN PHOTOS: HAIFA HOLDS LARGT-EVER GAY PRI PARA CY'S HISTORY
• ISRAELI MEN BARE THEIR SOULS—AND THEIR BODI—IN LATT ISSUE OF GAY TRAVEL MAGAZE"JEWS WERE SPREADG THE WORD TO ARAB IENDS, ARABS WERE TRODUCG TO THEIR RSIAN IENDS." SAYS LIAM CAMPBELL OF ELSKA'S HAIFA {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY DAN AVERYNOVEMBER 1, 2017/11:41 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}LIAM CAMPBELL/ELSKABY DAN AVERYNOVEMBER 1, 2017 / 11:41 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ISRAELI MEN BARE THEIR SOULS—AND THEIR BODI—IN LATT ISSUE OF GAY TRAVEL MAGAZE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-11-01T15:41:29.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-11-01T15:41:29.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","KEYWORDS":"TRAVEL, BOOKS","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ISRAELI PORT CY OF HAIFA ISN'T AS WELL KNOWN TERNATNALLY AS JESALEM OR TEL AVIV, BUT 'S NO LS STUNNG: A MOUNTAO LANDSPE CRAMMED WH ANCIENT BUILDGS AND WDG ROADS, SET AGAST THE BACKDROP OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND HAIFA, SUBJECT OF THE CURRENT ISSUE OF THE GAY TRAVEL MAGAZE ELSKA, OFFERS SOMETHG OTHER ISRAELI CI DON'T: A MOL FOR DIVERSY AND ACCEPTANCE.LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I’M CERTA MOST PEOPLE EXPECTED TO GO TO THE HUGE GAY HUB THAT IS TEL AVIV," SAYS ELSKA EDOR LIAM CAMPBELL. "[BUT] HAIFA IS KNOWN FOR BEG THE MOST MIXED AND NORMALIZED CY THE UNTRY, WH JEWS AND ARABS SHARG THE SAME SPACE AND WH A GREATER GREE OF HARMONY THAN ANYWHERE ELSE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT, AND A SIZABLE MUNY OM THE FORMER SOVIET UNN, PHED CAMPBELL TO CHOOSE HAIFA FOR ELSKA'S FIRST ISRAELI ISSUE. AS EVERY ISSUE, CAMPBELL'S TEAM TERVIEWED NUMERO MEN ABOUT THEIR LIV THE CY, AND TOOK PORTRAS BOTH ON THE STREET AND MORE TIMATE SURROUNDGS, OFTEN NU OR PARTIALLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FDG SUBJECTS WILLG TO BARE ALL (LERALLY AND METAPHORILLY) N BE TRICKY. BUT HAIFA, CAMPBELL SAID, THE LOLS DID A LOT OF THE LEGWORK.LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“ALL OF THE MEN WE MET KEPT ASKG IF WE’D MANAGED TO MEET PEOPLE OM OTHER MUNI. JEWS WERE SPREADG THE WORD TO THEIR ARAB IENDS, ARABS WERE TRODUCG TO THEIR RSIAN IENDS, AND EVERYONE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOW THE MULTICULTURALISM THAT THE PEOPLE OF HAIFA ARE SO PROUD OF."LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT'S NOT TO SUGGT THE MAGAZE WHEWASH ISSU FACED BY DIFFERENT MUNI, CLUDG RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, AND RELIG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE ARE NATURALLY SIGNS THAT LIFE IS NOT PERFECT," CAMPBELL SAYS. "HOWEVER, HAIFA SEEMS TO SET A BETTER EXAMPLE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE ISRAEL OF HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE TOGETHER, NOT JT BY TOLERATG EACH OTHER BUT BY LOVG EACH OTHER. THE MEN YOU MEET ELSKA HAIFA DO SHOW SOME OF THEIR PA, BUT THEY SHARE THEIR HOPE, AS WELL."LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ELSKA'S HAIFA ISSUE IS AVAILABLE A 164-PAGE PRT VERSN OR FOR DOWNLOAD. A PANN E-ZE, ELSKA EKSTRA HAIFA , OFFERS OUTTAK, BEHD-THE-SCEN TAL AND MORE PROFIL.LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• FREAK FLAG: ISRAEL'S SECRET & SORDID GAY SPOTS
• TOP 10 GAY BAR HAIFA
• ISRAEL'S GAY SCENE THRIV UNEXPECTED PLAC
• ISRAEL’S BT GAY & GAY-IENDLY BARS AND FéS

THE GAY-FRIENDLIT CI ISRAEL

Activism has always been a mastay of Haifa, begng om s days as a port cy, when stevedor and port workers were anized by early labor anizatns, said Dotan Brom, a gui who specializ gay pri and munist tours of the cy that he adopted as his hometown a few years ago.

Brom, who will be offerg several tours durg the ftival, gave me an abbreviated tour about Haifa’s gay history, wh a look at the cy’s port, which was first expand durg the time of the Brish Mandate, part of their route for the planned Haifa-Mosul pipele. For Brom, a rearcher and member of the Haifa Queer History Project, Hadar reprents the heart of gay Haifa, both historilly and allegorilly. The cy’s early, secretive gay life began, many ways, Gan Hazikaron, or Garn of Remembrance, jt across om Cy Hall, the eclectic archectural styled buildg signed by Benjam Chaik and built 1942, wh a mix of Eastern and Wtern elements, symbols of the velopg cy.

IN PHOTOS: HAIFA HOLDS LARGT-EVER GAY PRI PARA CY'S HISTORY

This open, grassy park overlookg the bay and port was where gay men would head at night, to meet and renzvo wh others behd the thick shbbery and lower areas of the park. It was where lol police trolled for spects durg a spate of murrs of gay men the 1990s, takg men’s inty rd numbers and llg them at work or home, often outg them to their fai and workplac. The more hidn paths and rners of the park are still ed by eply closeted gay men, often om Haredi or Arab backgrounds, said Brom, but ’s also wily ed by others, cludg a weekly cricket game of Sri Lankan foreign workers.

ISRAELI MEN BARE THEIR SOULS—AND THEIR BODI—IN LATT ISSUE OF GAY TRAVEL MAGAZE"JEWS WERE SPREADG THE WORD TO ARAB IENDS, ARABS WERE TRODUCG TO THEIR RSIAN IENDS." SAYS LIAM CAMPBELL OF ELSKA'S HAIFA {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY DAN AVERYNOVEMBER 1, 2017/11:41 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}LIAM CAMPBELL/ELSKABY DAN AVERYNOVEMBER 1, 2017 / 11:41 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ISRAELI MEN BARE THEIR SOULS—AND THEIR BODI—IN LATT ISSUE OF GAY TRAVEL MAGAZE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-11-01T15:41:29.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-11-01T15:41:29.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY","KEYWORDS":"TRAVEL, BOOKS","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ISRAELI PORT CY OF HAIFA ISN'T AS WELL KNOWN TERNATNALLY AS JESALEM OR TEL AVIV, BUT 'S NO LS STUNNG: A MOUNTAO LANDSPE CRAMMED WH ANCIENT BUILDGS AND WDG ROADS, SET AGAST THE BACKDROP OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND HAIFA, SUBJECT OF THE CURRENT ISSUE OF THE GAY TRAVEL MAGAZE ELSKA, OFFERS SOMETHG OTHER ISRAELI CI DON'T: A MOL FOR DIVERSY AND ACCEPTANCE.LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I’M CERTA MOST PEOPLE EXPECTED TO GO TO THE HUGE GAY HUB THAT IS TEL AVIV," SAYS ELSKA EDOR LIAM CAMPBELL. "[BUT] HAIFA IS KNOWN FOR BEG THE MOST MIXED AND NORMALIZED CY THE UNTRY, WH JEWS AND ARABS SHARG THE SAME SPACE AND WH A GREATER GREE OF HARMONY THAN ANYWHERE ELSE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT, AND A SIZABLE MUNY OM THE FORMER SOVIET UNN, PHED CAMPBELL TO CHOOSE HAIFA FOR ELSKA'S FIRST ISRAELI ISSUE. AS EVERY ISSUE, CAMPBELL'S TEAM TERVIEWED NUMERO MEN ABOUT THEIR LIV THE CY, AND TOOK PORTRAS BOTH ON THE STREET AND MORE TIMATE SURROUNDGS, OFTEN NU OR PARTIALLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FDG SUBJECTS WILLG TO BARE ALL (LERALLY AND METAPHORILLY) N BE TRICKY. BUT HAIFA, CAMPBELL SAID, THE LOLS DID A LOT OF THE LEGWORK.LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“ALL OF THE MEN WE MET KEPT ASKG IF WE’D MANAGED TO MEET PEOPLE OM OTHER MUNI. JEWS WERE SPREADG THE WORD TO THEIR ARAB IENDS, ARABS WERE TRODUCG TO THEIR RSIAN IENDS, AND EVERYONE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOW THE MULTICULTURALISM THAT THE PEOPLE OF HAIFA ARE SO PROUD OF."LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT'S NOT TO SUGGT THE MAGAZE WHEWASH ISSU FACED BY DIFFERENT MUNI, CLUDG RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, AND RELIG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE ARE NATURALLY SIGNS THAT LIFE IS NOT PERFECT," CAMPBELL SAYS. "HOWEVER, HAIFA SEEMS TO SET A BETTER EXAMPLE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE ISRAEL OF HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE TOGETHER, NOT JT BY TOLERATG EACH OTHER BUT BY LOVG EACH OTHER. THE MEN YOU MEET ELSKA HAIFA DO SHOW SOME OF THEIR PA, BUT THEY SHARE THEIR HOPE, AS WELL."LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ELSKA'S HAIFA ISSUE IS AVAILABLE A 164-PAGE PRT VERSN OR FOR DOWNLOAD. A PANN E-ZE, ELSKA EKSTRA HAIFA , OFFERS OUTTAK, BEHD-THE-SCEN TAL AND MORE PROFIL.LIAM CAMPBELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Gay life has changed nsirably the last s, and Brom don’t want Haifa to be nsired send tier to Tel Aviv, the queen of the gay scene. The cy has s own Gay Pri para each June, and Haifa’s new LGBTQ center, Communi’ Hoe for Pri and Tolerance on Masada Street Hadar, is where the annual Queer History Ftival is held.

About the gay muny Haifa, which requir pre-registratn. Haaretz | Israel NewsThe para the northern Israeli cy was held this year honor of senr members of the LGBT munyJun 22, 2018Thoands of people marchg the cy of Haifa durg the Gay Pri Para on June 22, Rami ShllhJun 22, 2018Thoands of Israelis took to the streets the northern cy of Haifa on Friday morng to participate the largt-ever Gay Pri Para to ever take place the cy. The para's theme this year is "generatns of pri, " a nod to the elr members of the LGBT muny who pneered the fight for equal rights the untry for heterosexual as well as gay civilians.

Thoands of people marchg the cy of Haifa durg the Gay Pri Para on June 22, Rami Shllh>> An Israeli cy jt hosted Miast's first-ever queer history ftival (and 's not Tel Aviv) Haifa mayor Yona Yahav told participants marchg the para that "the Gay Pri Para Haifa is a display of happs which we celebrate existence among people of all ag and muni Haifa, and the importance of acceptg each other as a society a spir of tolerance.

FREAK FLAG: ISRAEL'S SECRET & SORDID GAY SPOTS

Thoands of people marchg the cy of Haifa durg the Gay Pri Para on June 22, Rami ShllhTrendg NowIn Tel Aviv, Israelis Draw Inspiratn From One AnotherThk Ben-Gvir Is Israel's Most Dangero Mister? The Israeli port cy of Haifa isn't as well known ternatnally as Jesalem or Tel Aviv, but 's no ls stunng: A mountao landspe crammed wh ancient buildgs and wdg roads, set agast the backdrop of the Haifa, subject of the current issue of the gay travel magaze Elska, offers somethg other Israeli ci don't: A mol for diversy and acceptance. "I’m certa most people expected to go to the huge gay hub that is Tel Aviv, " says Elska edor Liam Campbell.

Consired the gay-iendlit untry the Middle East, Israel offers LGBT tourists a smasbord of experienc.

TOP 10 GAY BAR HAIFA

Israel's Gay Scene Beyond Tel Aviv 7 Queer Jews to Be Reckoned Wh ‘Tel Francis’ (The heartland of the actn)Tel Aviv is the epicenter of Israel’s LGBT scene; the undisputed queer Mec of the Middle East. Some timate that gay people nstute 15% of the cy’s populatn, numberg tens of thoands of lols – and ever-growg hors of tourists. Before them is a feast of dited venu spread liberally throughout the cy re, though there's no particular ‘gayborhood’ – givg the cy a queerer feel numerilly than actually has:1.

If mpy Madonna mic and patrons are more your thg, vis the grey lady of Tel Aviv’s gay scene, Eva, where you’re most likely to hear hs om Dana Internatnal – the transsexual Israeli wner of Eurovisn lookg for women?

ISRAEL'S GAY SCENE THRIV UNEXPECTED PLAC

Take a stroll down elegant Rothschild Boulevard, where gays, straights and everythg between stt their stuff amid shi stalls, prso stands, sculptur and pampered n. There’s also fashnista Shek Street, and inic Meir Park, a social hub for LGBT Israelis, se of s ma muny center, the tradnal startg part of the cy’s pri para (see Step 2 below), and now proud home to a memorial to Nazi barbary’s gay victims.

Haj of the Pristanis: Tel Aviv’s annual LGBT paraFrom bronzed mcle-gods and elaborately rated floats to poted polil plards and mass of rabow flags emblazoned wh the Star of David, Tel Aviv’s annual gay pri para is a mt for those who want to experience Israel’s at ’s gayt, and some would say s et (and still others at s most generate).

ISRAEL’S BT GAY & GAY-IENDLY BARS AND FéS

Beach bums: The Gang of Tel Avivian hedonismIn the relign of many Israelis, gay and straight the same, the Mederranean Sea is the holy of holi – an outdoorsy, uber-rmal culture that venerat feelg and lookg Beach, ironilly (or poetilly? ) posned oppose Tel Aviv’s genr segregated relig beach, and easily intifiable by s rabow umbrellas, is an open-air butchery, packed wh gays (straights wele too! Though not exclively gay, Israel’s only official nu beach is certaly the only of s type on the eastern Mederranean.

” Such sentiments – let alone bountiful merchandise – are part and parcel of most major wtern ci, yet the Middle East – where homosexuals and sexually pennt women are owned upon – that Tel Aviv has such tablishments, legal at that, is wondro to some.