Israel Swears in Openly Gay Lawmaker

Thursday, November 4, 2002 / 04:30 PM

The first openly gay member of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, was sworn in on Monday.

Uzi Even, 62, a chemistry professor and expert on nuclear weapons, is a member of the left-wing Meretz Party, and he replaces the retiring Amnon Rubinstein.

A veteran activist for gay rights, Even told the assembly that he will press for tolerance in a country that often struggles with political, religious and ethnic differences.

"I am excited and proud," Even said during the ceremony, "because there were other days not so long ago when I was forced to leave my work as a scientist serving the country and my position in the army just because I wanted to live my life openly, without shame, to love the one who was close to my heart."

After fighting in two wars, Even was dismissed from the Israeli army in 1993 because of his sexual orientation. Months after he brought the issue to the Knesset's (and the public's) attention, discrimination against gays in the armed forces was outlawed.

A few ultra-Orthodox lawmakers walked out of Even's swearing-in ceremony, reported the Associated Press, but otherwise it went without incident.

----PlanetOut.com Network