The Pride and Disability Leadership Group make history

Last month we were excited to have more than 150 community leaders, academics, professionals and LGBTQ+ people with disabilities gathered in the first ever Israeli Conference on Pride and Disability.

This conference was organized in order to raise awareness of the harsh and double rejection they often experience, both as people with disabilities and as LGBTQ+ people, some of the group members described their difficulties, which include integrating into workplaces, finding accessible and comfortable places of recreation and leisure, dealing with sexual harassment, violence and boycotts; and expressed their desire to finally change the attitude towards them in the Israeli society, and get out of the “double closet.

The Pride and Disability Leadership Group was created in 2020, and consists of 16 people from across the LGBTQ+ community and identities and with all types of disabilities, between the ages of 20 and 60, from all over the country.

Beit Issie Shapiro helps impact policy for people with disabilities through its Leadership Center, made up of 100+ participants with varying disabilities across Israel who together advocate for their rights on issues in the community.