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Gay tour director Russell Lord, who has traveled extensively in the Middle East, to Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and the Gulf regions, says Israel, particularly Tel Aviv, is a different world. The closest semi-progressive city, still far away in attitude, would be Beirut. In March 2005, Russell and his partner were married on a trip to Toronto, and upon returning to Tel Aviv they went to get the status on their official identification cards changed from “single” to “married” and were denied. With four other couples they went to court and won, so in December 2006, Russell was the first citizen of Israel to receive official identification labeling him as married to a partner of the same sex. It was a Supreme Court case of such importance that it was ruled on by seven judges as opposed to the traditional three (another case requiring seven judges was the decision to withdraw from the Gaza Strip). The five couples won 6-to-1 in a decision handed down to a packed courthouse. “Every faggot in Israel wanted to be there,” quips Lord, “It was the place to be seen.” Since then there has been no backlash at all, not one crank call. “Some of the most religious people I met told me ‘Mazel Tov.’” Lord’s work with inbound international gay tourists has given him plenty of perspective on what GLBT tourists look for, and what they can find in Tel Aviv.

Personal safety is a concern for many, and Russell is quick to calm fears. “There’s never been a real problem with hate crimes,” he assures, the worst crime against a gay man he has heard of in years was a tourist having his pocket picked. The city’s acceptance of everyone is his favorite quality about which to boast, “You have to remember, Dana International [trans star and Israel’s most visible Eurovision entrant, winning the international contest in 1998] was sent on a promotion tour by the government to many countries to represent Israel. Who else can say a transsexual was the spokesperson for an entire country?” Tel Aviv’s openness makes it gayer than people believe until they arrive. Lord says the incoming gay tourists he books are about 85% gay males, but he loves all the “great groups organized by lesbian rabbis.” Mostly he loves being able to be himself anywhere in the city along with his partner, Avi. Being out and active as a gay man and as part of a committed couple is a priority he takes very seriously.

via Passport Magazine