Israel offers solidarity after gay community center attack

August 10, 2009 - 9:23 AM by Nicky

A guest post from Yohay Elam, of Forex Crunch, who lives just two doors down from the gay center attacked last week.

Tributes left at the community center on Nachmani

Saturday night in the big city. A friend came to visit, and we went out for a drink. While we were sipping our beers, my girlfriend called me and asked where I am. I told her “Armadillo”, the local bar just one block away from our house.
She informed me that she heard shots fired, and that people are calling for help. The sound of sirens awaited us as we left the bar. Ambulances and police cars were quick to arrive on the scene. When we got closer, my friend asked me not to get close, and not to look. He argued “You don’t want to have those pictures in your mind”.
When we got back home, my girlfriend was still shaken. We live on Nachmani 24, two building away from the gay-lesbian community center, where the act of terror took place. From the first floor, and with an open window, she could hear everything.
After responding to many phone calls and text messages from worried family members and friends, we were exhausted and fell fast asleep. Only the next morning did we realize that something significant has changed.
I live in this apartment for almost 5 years. The neighborhood is packed with cafes, restaurants and bars. Many Bauhaus tours pass under my window. This busy corner in the city was always a fun place to be in, and it always felt safe.
Two building from my living room, in a building that looks just like the one I live in, a terrible murder took place. There is only a small sign on that building stating that it belongs to the gay-lesbian community center. The sign is colorful but modest, similar to those of dentists’ and lawyers’ operating in residential buildings. The possibility of a deliberate hate crime became imminent.
I feared that this vicious crime would drive the gay community back to the shadows, after years of struggles and notable achievements. It felt like a big blow to pluralism.
After more than a week, I must say I’m more optimistic. On the day following the murder, many people gathered around the building, lit candles, put flowers and gave interviews to the media. I thought that this was solely the initial reaction and an attraction to the interest of the press.
I’m glad to say that I was wrong. On the next few days, the media was gone, yet many people still visited the building, brought food and drinks for the mourners, lit candles and just stood in quiet solidarity.
More candles were lit on the following days. This truly warmed my heart each time I passed there. On Thursday, Prime Minister Netanyahu paid a visit. On Saturday night, a big rally with the participation of President Shimon Peres was held in Rabin Square.
This mass rally showed that Israelis care, and that the achievements of the gay community would not be shattered by the bullets of the murderer.
I hope that the murderer will be caught and brought to justice soon, and that the right to be different yet equal will continue to be exercised in Tel Aviv and throughout the country.

You can also see other posts on the attack here:

Rally in Tel Aviv.

Attack in the heart of Tel Aviv

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