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Out in Israel Festival Highlights LGBT Life There Out in Israel Festival Highlights LGBT Life There
The “Out in Israel” film series runs this month at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco, in coalition with the SF Jewish Film Festival and the Consulate General of Israel. The five curated films include "Jerusalem is Proud to Present," "Yossi & Jagger," "The Secrets," and "Amazing Grace," all of which are free of charge. Additionally, Haim Tabakman's new film about a homoerotic affair in an Orthodox Haredi community, "Eyes Wide Open," makes its San Francisco premiere on April 8 (tickets $8).
This film series is part of a larger, month-long celebration of LGBT Israeli Pride Month, which will include include theatrical and musical performances by prominent Israeli artists, cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions, literary readings, panels on LGBT culture in Israel, and intellectual debate on the Zionist perspective.
Each of the films in the series deals with the confrontation between homosexuality and existing Torah-centered Israeli culture, as well as positive responses from an increasingly progressive society. Indeed, Israel is the only country which allows homosexuality and it is where Arab gays sometimes flee to escape being murdered, often by their relatives. Over the fierce opposition of Jewish, Muslim, Christian and even Sufi religious leaders, Jereusalem instituted an annual "Gay Day" Parade a few years ago.
Israeli Consulate to the Pacific Northwest Daniel Morgan expressed excitement for the festival: "We hope people will be both intrigued and excited by the displays of cultural contributions in the vibrant and progressive communities in Israel," he told us. "We think people will be able to relate to Israel as a place that inspires innovative artistic expression, given the Bay Area's rich history of creativity.
Further information and RSVP for tickets is available at the festival's website, http://www.outinisraelsf.org .by R.Rose March 27, 2010