City University of New York Resolves to Balance Out Anti-Israel “Pinkwashing” Conference
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ADL Anti-Defamation League anti-Israel Gay activisim Gay Rights Homonationalism israel Israel Gay Israel News Jewish Jewish News Jews pinkwashing
2010 Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem. Photo: wiki commons.
Following the Anti-Defamation League’s condemnation of the”Homonationalism and Pinkwashing” conference, which plans to accuse Israel of using its positive record on LGBT issues to deflect from the “oppression of Palestinians”, the City University of New York - which is co-sponsoring the event in conjunction with the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies on campus - has decided to take the unprecedented step of ensuring that those who oppose the idea of “pinkwashing” will be well represented at the conference.
“Generally, in the past, universities were expected to abide by civility and proper discourse in having honest debates. That’s evolved in recent years so that opinions that are one sided get dominance in these forums,” CUNY Trustee Jeffrey Weisenfeld told The Algemeiner. “The difference here is, they won’t be able to imbalance it. In the past, some groups, what they would do, they would get ten people against Israel, and one person for. Not only is the argument balanced now, but the number of presenters will be balanced.”
On its website, The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS), writes that “intensifying criticism and the threat of economic boycott” has led Israel to increase “their marketing plan by harnessing Homonationalism to reposition its global image.” Representatives from CLAGS were not immediately available for comment.
According to Wiesenfeld, CUNY will adopt a policy of ensuring that university sponsored events provide an equal and balanced academic approach.
“It will not only be for this, but this will be the policy going forward,” he said.
A Friday morning phone conversation led to the decision, which Wiesenfeld said is an important one because it ensures there is not a single narrative. He credited Matthew Goldstein, the chancellor of CUNY since 1999, for making what he believes is the right decision.
“He [Goldstein] has always said that there has to be a paradigm to change the way this one sided debate against Israel has been going on across the country, and I think the approach he is taking is the way to go.” At the time of publication the Office of the Chancellor had not responded to The Algemeiner’s request for comment.
5:34 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Israel
I hope they get their facts straight. And what does Israel’s gay rights laws have to do with CUNY, or anything for that matter? As a New Yorker I am ashamed.
1:46 pm
Ten people against Israel, sounds like a peradventure? *Genesis 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. 2nd Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
1:32 pm
The state of Israel, ask them what covenant are they under? Esau descendants will say the first covenant, under circumcision. If synagogue Jews are in the first covenant, following Shem. Who are the people that belong to the second covenant? The true believers. The sons of Shem (Genesis 10:31) they speak in tongues. *1st Corinthians 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
12:44 pm
By the way if any man or church gives one a Bible scripture to memorize, (Hebrews 8:10) always read the scripture before and after. For example, the earthly church loves quoting Romans 16:17 but they reject the next verse, in *Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
6:40 pm
Andrei S. Markovits, writing in the relatively progressive magazine Dissent, said in the Winter 2005 issue, “A new European (and American) commonality for all lefts—a new litmus test of progressive politics—seems to have developed: anti-Americanism and anti-Zionism (though not anti-Semitism, at least not yet).”
The words “not yet” seemed possible in 2005, when they were written. Today they are less convincing.
Be that as it may, for leftist gay-rights advocates, opposing Israel takes precedence over gay rights.