Jerusalem - Post Report Question and Answers
Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Tel Aviv is much easier for the LGBT+ community. - Nov 2022
A qualified yes. Israel over-all is fairly LGBT-friendly, and while Orthodox Jerusalem is not you're really not going to be interacting with those people anyway. Spouses can be fully accredited, and the mission is very supportive and diverse. - Oct 2019
Yes and no. Jerusalem is religious and conservative and I think the LGBT crowd is not comfortable being super open in public here. There are at least two restaurants that I know of that are owned by openly gay couples but sadly, my understanding is one of them was vandalized by conservative Jews. Jerusalem has an annual Pride & Tolerance March that draws 20,000 people but I heard rainbow flags on the light poles along the route had to be ordered by the Supreme Court. Tel Aviv has a great LGBT scene and is well known for it's annual Pride Week. - Aug 2018
Yes. The dating scene is not well developed in Jerusalem, but it is in Tel Aviv, which is less than an hour away. While this is a religious place, it's safe to be out here, and I don't think same sex physical affection will get any different reaction from heterosexual (which is to say, PDAs are not common here- the religious folks don't touch in public). - Apr 2018
Yes -- Israel is one of the most LGBT tolerant countries in the world. There is a robust LGBT population in Tel Aviv. - Dec 2016
Seems to be at least doable. My gay colleagues had a great community of support in the local gay scene. That said, Jerusalem is a very religiously conservative city, and gay and lesbians here face discrimination and harrassment (including violence at times). - Aug 2015
There are many religiously conservative people in Jerusalem and there is a lot of intolerance towards homosexuality. Two weeks ago an Israeli terrorist stabbed 6 people at a pride pride. However, I will say that I had several gay friends (diplomats) and they all loved the post. Tel Aviv is a very gay friendly city and they traveled there frequently (it's only an hour with no traffic). Also, I think they found solidarity among fellow gay people (Jewish and Palestinian) who faced intolerance. - Aug 2015
Not sure they would mind as long as it was not overly advertised. - May 2015
Probably not since Jerusalem is full of relegious Israelis that would frown on gay/lesbians. Tel Aviv has a very vibrant community though and seems to be very tolerant. - Mar 2014
You definitely do not see them in the open, it's a rather conservative and religious place, with tons of pilgrims and religious tourism but I know there's some. Again, Tel Aviv is very close. - Aug 2013
As noted above, Tel Aviv is the place to be for singles or gays and lesbians. There are plenty of gays and lesbians in Jerusalem, but it is a conservative city without much of an overt scene. - Jul 2013
Not in Jerusalem. There are the most orthodox people of both, Jewish and Muslims. - Feb 2009
