An LGBT activist protesting in Be’er Sheva on Sunday over the community’s exclusion from the Surrogacy Law that was passed last week claimed that a driver tried to run him over during the demonstration.
The LGBT community received widespread support from a long list of leading Israeli companies, organizations and institutions when they announced their decision last week to stage widespread demonstration against the law which allows single mothers and heterosexual couples only who cannot have children to use the services of a surrogate mother to become parents.
Footage of the incident
(קרדיט: אור ארז)
The activist, Or Erez, a spokesman for the Tel Aviv Municipal LGBT Community Center, said that he intends to file a complaint to the police on the matter, but the police have so far said that they are unaware of any such incident.
“They protested and blocked the road. A car tried to run me over. I jumped on the car hood so he couldn’t hit me and I fell on the road,” Erez claimed. “The driver cursed us. I saw the hate in his eyes. It’s simply homophobia. There is no other explanation.”
Erez said that two protesters who witnessed the incident immediately contacted the police and filed a complaint.
“Another driver threatened one of the female activists. He said: ‘I know who you are. I’ll murder you.’ He took a photograph of her and that proves to us just how right our campaign is and how much work be have before us,” Erez added.
“The struggle for equal rights is not only for surrogacy and parenthood, but also against violence and homophobia which is becoming more extreme and violent. It shows that we are not just campaigning for the sake of it,” Erez said, echoing the sentiments that have been expressed throughout the day by a number of activists.
For Erez, blame for the alleged violence perpetrated against him lies with the government and its policies.
“Everything begins at the top with the government. We see the behavior of the government in the street. We see the consequences of incitement and discrimination against us. Our blood has become cheap,” Erez lamented, adding that the police did nothing when the alleged ramming was brought to their attention.
“I shouted, ‘He ran me over’ and they simply ignored me. They were busy with pushing us back onto the sidewalk,” he claimed.