Liaison Between Law Enforcement and LGBTQ Community Delivers PKI Keynote

Last week, Project Kesher Israel’s LGBTQ chapter in Tel Aviv hosted a special meeting with a keynote address by Shay Bar Cohen, an openly gay police officer who plays a key role in building bridges between the LGBTQ community and law enforcement in central Israel.

During his talk, Shay addressed such topics as equal rights for Israeli police officers who identify as LGBTQ, the protection of LGBTQ individuals at rallies and pride events, and responses to homophobic incidents. He also discussed his and his husband’s social activism during Israel’s current political challenges and his roots in the former Soviet Union.

The event fostered an engaging and interactive discussion, with participants asking thought-provoking questions and sharing their own experiences. It is the first of several dialogues with law enforcement as part of the organization’s commitment to preserving the civil rights of Israel’s LGBTQ, heterosexual and cisgender populations.