Yu"The Histadrut’s R. Sara May Golan: I will fight for the cancellation of budget cuts to the Haat"B

Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David addressed a letter to Minister of Social Equality May Golan, following the 40% cut in the budgets of the programs and services for the LGBT population in the Ministry’s budget. “We demand that you fight for the elimination of harm to the community and to increase the budget,” wrote Bar-David, “this is your duty and ours as a society.”

The cut budgets are used, among other things, for programs to prevent suicide, reduce prostitution, out-of-home settings for proud youth, protect children from online harm and other programs. In the letter, which is also signed by the head of the social justice and gender equality department at the Histadrut, Yaya Fink, and the chairman of the Assuta Ramat Hay’il workers’ committee and the member of the executive committee of the Association for the LGBT, Maggie Moore, it is written: “The LGBT community has been dealing with alarming phenomena for years. Studies conducted on LGBT youth show a suicide rate that is eight times higher than the general population, and among 40% of transgender youth, behaviors that include self-harm can be observed. Compared to its share in the general population, a large percentage of the LGBT community descends into the prostitution industry, and LGBT youth “Many report sexual abuse. The dramatic cut in the budget will seriously harm LGBTQ youth and adults in risk situations who, especially in these difficult days, need more extensive services.”

The Ministry of Social Equality: “Due to the costs of the war and under the direction of the Ministry of Finance, the budget cut was only made for future programs that do not actually exist. We wish to make it clear that the programs of the division for the promotion of the LGBT population will continue to operate without budget damage and as in previous years.

“For the first time, the ministry intends to also allocate dedicated budgets for the benefit of research processes, due to the necessity of developing data-based programs and building a professional concept. Due to the needs of the authorities, in some authorities the possibility will be given to fix a full-time position for the LGBT coordinator, rather than a half-time position as currently budgeted. We will continue to work tirelessly for the benefit of reducing the gaps and promoting the answers to the population for the benefit of the State of Israel, its citizens and Israeli society.”