Shocking Attack at Gay Youth Center in Tel Aviv

Martine Kaplan — August 3, 2009 – 11:10 am | Civil Rights | Israel Comments (0) Add a comment

The worldwide LGBT community is shocked by a senseless act of violence in Tel Aviv this past weekend. A gunman walked into a gay center, killed three patrons and injured eleven more. Witnesses said the scene was a “bloodbath.”

One of the victims was Nir Katz, 26, who was a counselor at the center.  Another, Liz Trubeshi, was a 16-year-old straight ally. The shooter is still at-large, according to Tel Aviv district commander Major-General Shahar Ayalon. “At some point someone walked in and began firing left and right. The shooter escaped and we are searching for the suspect. We have no specific description of the suspect or the circumstances.”

Tel Aviv is known for being one of the most gay-friendly and accepting cities in the world. However, there are two saddening consequences of the attack. First, Ayalon ordered all LGBT clubs in Tel Aviv to close. Second, according to the Jerusalem Post, gay teens are already feeling vulnerable and scared to return to the clubs and centers they rely on for support. But it is encouraging that vigils and rallies are being held in Israel and around the world.

The attack comes only a week after a bomb was thrown on the track at the World Outgames in Copehangen, Denmark. Adir Steiner, who was representing Israel at the games, responded to the attack: “Over the past week we have painted Israel on every possible podium as a wonderful place for homosexuals, lesbians and transgenders. This idyllic state which we wanted so badly to believe in exploded in our faces.”

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