Three Dead, 11 Injured in Tel Aviv LGBT Community Center Shooting

August 2, 2009

Most in the LGBT community have heard by now of Saturday’s deadly gay community center shooting in Tel Aviv. Outside the community, though, coverage has been sparse (to be polite). Regardless, at this hour we know that three are dead and eleven more wounded.

This morning, Pink News filed this report on the attack:

Liz Trubeshi
As two of the young LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) Israelis murdered in a shooting at a Tel Aviv gay centre have been named, the country’s President and Prime Minister have condemned the atrocity.

Liz Trubeshi, aged just 16, of Holon and 26-year-old Nir [Katz] of Givatayim were named as the two young people murdered by a masked gun man at a meeting for young gay people within Tel Aviv’s vibrant gay district.

Israeli President Shimon Peres said: “the shocking murder carried out in Tel Aviv yesterday against youths and young people is a murder which a civilized and enlightened nation cannot accept.”

“Murder and hatred are the two most serious crimes in society. The police must exert great efforts in order to catch the despicable murderer, and the entire nation must unite in condemning this abominable act.”

Israeli media report that a masked gun man dressed head to toe in black entered the venue, underneath Cafe Noir in Tel Aviv, 28 Nachmani Street at the junction with Ahad Ha’am Street. He shot at least 14 people, spraying the interior of the club with automatic rifle fire and reportedly attempted to enter another venue. Media report that the venue was the scene of a “blood bath.”

Eyal Amit of the gay organisation holding the event told Israeli website Ynet: “For 15 years this place has served as a club belonging to the union for private rights. Today a teen meeting was taking place. At some point someone walked in and began firing left and right.”

Since that report was filed, one of the injured has died. Her/his identity has not been released at this hour. Because of differences in language, it’s worth pointing out that this ‘club’ is not a bar, but a community center that serves LGBT and questioning teens. Nir was a teen counselor at the center.

Journalist Shlomi Laufer wrote the following in this morning’s ynetnews.com Opinion column (excerpted; follow the link for the entire piece):

Nir Katz
This shooting attack, should it turn out it was indeed directed at the homo-lesbian community, is not a unique event; it’s merely an extreme one, but make no mistake about it, incidents like that take place on Tel Aviv’s streets time and again with no interruption. About two months ago, two guys were chased by a group armed with baseball bats; before that, two youngsters were stabbed outside a gay club. Meanwhile, numerous cases go unreported.

For those who arrive from the outside it sometimes appears as though the city is painted an especially bright shade of pink; here one can hold hands on Rothschild Boulevard, nonchalantly hop from one club to another, wed, adopt children, and run for city council. Yet for those who live here, the curses, hateful glares, spits, and hidden hostility are clearly felt. The double life: On the one hand one can feel open and safe, but on the other hand nothing is really safe here. Just ask the youngsters who showed up to the weekly meeting at the gay center last night; check who will return next week.

Once a year, spokespersons on behalf of the gay community are requested to explain why we insist on the pride parade; so here is the answer. There are those who fan the flames of hatred and homophobia, and the outcome may lead to gunfire. Here is your answer, this is the reason: Because they shoot at us. At times they use words, and other times they use bullets.

Pride is not a grand street party for drag queens and guys wearing bathing suits; pride is a display of power by the community – it is a way to support teenagers and adults who feel the growing hatred on their flesh. The pride parade is a message to everyone who wishes to see us disappear that we are here and we are proud; we will support the victims of hatred, but we will not bow our heads. We will not hide.

They are shooting at us. The loaded gun is aimed not only at gay and lesbian teenagers at a weekly meeting, and not only at the gay community, but rather, at all those who fear the next time, and it shall come. Make no mistake about it, this despicable act will grant many others the opportunity to swear and threaten and beat up and stab. And to shoot. They are shooting our natural right to live, to be.

This morning, the rainbow-colored pride parade is sadder and paler than ever. Our collective psyche has been supplemented by another constitutive event that will accompany Israel’s gay community for many years to come. Today, everyone is part of the community, and everyone who was shaken up last night can go ahead and hoist the pride flag this morning.