The Aguda
The Aguda is an Israeli nonprofit organization providing advocacy, community services and public-policy work for LGBTQ equality.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Aguda, formally associated with the Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel, is a nonprofit organization established in Tel Aviv in 1975 to support LGBTQ people and advance equality in Israeli society. It is one of Israel's longest-running LGBTQ organizations and has combined community-building, crisis support, legal advocacy, political lobbying and public education over several decades. The organization began under the name Association for the Protection of Individual Rights because Israel's Associations Register would not initially accept an organizational name containing the words gay or lesbian. Its early work was largely volunteer-led and social in character. During the late 1970s, the Aguda organized gatherings and parties and operated from the home of Jonathan Danilowitz. In 1979 it hosted an international gathering of Jewish LGBTQ organizations in Tel Aviv. The event included a public gathering at what is now Rabin Square and is sometimes regarded as an early precursor to Israel's modern Pride movement. That year, activist Dan Lachman also established the White Line telephone crisis hotline. The Aguda gradually became an important political actor. In 1989 it launched the Otzma political-action program, which focused initially on employment equality. The campaign coincided with Danilowitz's legal challenge against El Al over the airline's refusal to provide equivalent benefits to his same-sex partner. Legislative advocacy contributed to the amendment of Israel's Equal Employment Opportunities Law in 1992. In 1994, Israel's Supreme Court relied on that law in ruling that El Al had unlawfully discriminated against Danilowitz, recognizing legal rights for a same-sex couple in a landmark decision. The organization participated in several other advances during the 1990s, including the creation of a Knesset subcommittee on LGBTQ issues in 1992, changes to Israel Defense Forces enlistment policy in 1993, and the 1997 addition of sexual-orientation-based degradation to the law prohibiting slander. The Aguda was the principal organizer of Tel Aviv's Pride Parade from its beginnings in 1993 through 2004. It worked jointly with the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality in 2005 and 2006; municipal authorities have directed the event since 2007. The Aguda also published Pink Time magazine from 1996 until 2008. Its current work includes a national LGBTQ hotline, legal assistance, psychological and community support, documentation of anti-LGBTQ violence through the Nir Katz Center, assistance for LGBTQ refugees, public-policy advocacy and the Pride Tag initiative for supportive businesses. Since 2006, people exempt from military service have been able to undertake national service with the organization. The Aguda received Israel's Presidential Volunteer Medal in 2010. The organization has also operated in an international environment shaped by debate over Israel's LGBTQ rights record and wider human-rights controversies. In 2024, its membership in ILGA World was suspended pending review after the organization withdrew or cancelled consideration of an Aguda bid to host an ILGA World conference in Tel Aviv following protests by South African delegates. The Aguda remains an active Israeli LGBTQ civil-society organization whose identity is rooted in a combination of direct services, political advocacy, cultural activity and community mobilization.
History
The Aguda was founded in Tel Aviv on October 6, 1975, by 12 LGBTQ activists: 11 gay men and one lesbian. Among the identified founders were Yaakov Pazi, Dan Lachman and Theo Mainz. The organization adopted the name Association for the Protection of Individual Rights because the Israeli Associations Register initially rejected names that explicitly referred to gay or lesbian people. This naming constraint reflected the legal and social climate in which the group began operating. In its first period, the Aguda functioned primarily as a volunteer community association. It organized parties, social meetings and cultural activities, helping create spaces for LGBTQ people at a time when such spaces were scarce. From 1977, some of its activity was based at Jonathan Danilowitz's home. In 1979, the Aguda hosted a gathering of Jewish LGBTQ organizations, attracting visitors from outside Israel. A public event connected with the gathering took place at Kings of Israel Square, now Rabin Square, and is sometimes described as an early Israeli Pride event. Dan Lachman also founded the White Line telephone crisis service in 1979. The Aguda expanded into political advocacy during the late 1980s. In 1989, Marc Tenenbaum, Hadar Namir and Joyce Sala directed the Otzma program, which pursued practical legislative and political goals. Its initial focus was equal employment protection. The campaign was closely connected to Jonathan Danilowitz's case against El Al, which concerned the airline's refusal to grant his same-sex partner the benefits available to partners of heterosexual employees. Advocacy helped produce a 1992 amendment to Israel's Equal Employment Opportunities Law. In 1994, the Supreme Court used that law in deciding that El Al had discriminated unlawfully against Danilowitz. The judgment was a major legal recognition of the rights of a same-sex couple in Israel. During the 1990s, the Aguda was involved in additional institutional and legal changes. A Knesset subcommittee dealing with LGBTQ issues was established in 1992. In 1993, military enlistment policy was changed to bring the treatment of gay and lesbian soldiers closer to that of other soldiers. In 1997, the law prohibiting slander was expanded to address degradation based on sexual orientation. The organization's operating name changed over time: references to gays, lesbians and bisexuals were added after the repeal of Israel's anti-sodomy laws in 1988; in 1995 the operating name became the Association of Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals in Israel; and transgender people were added to the name in 1999. The Aguda played a central role in the development of Tel Aviv Pride. It organized the parade from its beginning in 1993 through 2004, then worked with the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality in 2005 and 2006. Since 2007, the municipality has directed the parade. The organization also published Pink Time, an LGBTQ magazine, from 1996 to 2008. These cultural and public events complemented its legal work by increasing visibility and strengthening community networks. Since 2006, people exempt from Israel Defense Forces service have been able to undertake national service through the Aguda. The organization received the Presidential Volunteer Medal from Shimon Peres in 2010. Its service portfolio has developed into a broad set of direct-support programs, including the Yesh Im Mi Ledaber hotline, legal help, psychological consultation, the Nir Katz Center's anti-violence reporting work, assistance for LGBTQ refugees, a public-policy forum and the Pride Tag initiative for businesses supporting LGBTQ equality. The Aguda's international relationships have sometimes been affected by political controversy surrounding Israel. In October 2024, ILGA World suspended the organization's membership pending review after protests by South African delegates concerning an Aguda bid to host an ILGA World conference in Tel Aviv. The issue reflected disagreement about human-rights conditions and the relationship between LGBTQ advocacy and broader political questions. Despite this controversy, the Aguda continues to operate as an Israeli LGBTQ nonprofit focused on equality, community services, legal support and public advocacy.
- 2024
ILGA World membership suspended
[1]ILGA World suspends the Aguda's membership pending review amid objections connected with a proposed Tel Aviv conference.
- 2010
Presidential Volunteer Medal awarded
[1]The Aguda receives Israel's Presidential Volunteer Medal from President Shimon Peres.
- 2006
National-service placements begin
[1]People exempt from military service become eligible to perform national service through the Aguda.
- 1999
Transgender people added to operating name
[1]The organization's operating name is expanded to include transgender people.
- 1996
Pink Time publication begins
[1]The Aguda begins publishing the LGBTQ magazine Pink Time.
- 1994
Danilowitz case establishes same-sex partner rights
[1]The Supreme Court of Israel rules that El Al unlawfully discriminated against Jonathan Danilowitz by denying his same-sex partner equivalent benefits.
- 1993
Tel Aviv Pride organization begins
[1]The Aguda becomes the primary organizer of the Tel Aviv Pride Parade.
- 1992
Employment equality law amended
[1]Israel amends its Equal Employment Opportunities Law following advocacy connected with the Aguda's political work.
- 1989
Otzma political-action program begins
[1]The Aguda launches Otzma to pursue political and legislative reforms, initially emphasizing equal employment protection.
- 1988
Name expands after repeal of anti-sodomy laws
[1]The organization's name begins explicitly referring to gay, lesbian and bisexual people after Israel repeals its anti-sodomy laws.
Products and positioning
A national Israeli LGBTQ equality organization combining rights advocacy, community services, crisis support, legal assistance and public-policy work.
Crisis hotline
Yesh Im Mi Ledaber
A telephone support service whose Hebrew name means “There Is Someone to Talk To.” It provides a point of contact for LGBTQ people seeking emotional support, information or referral to relevant services.
Violence reporting and documentation
Nir Katz Center
A service for reporting anti-LGBTQ violence and documenting incidents. It supports the organization's public advocacy by collecting information about hostility and violence directed at LGBTQ people.
Legal support
LGBTQ legal assistance
Legal assistance for LGBTQ people and equality-related cases, complementing the Aguda's broader legislative and public-policy advocacy.
Psychological consultation
LGBTQ clinic
A psychological-consultation service intended to connect LGBTQ people with appropriate mental-health and support resources.
Refugee support
LGBTQ Refugees project
A program supporting LGBTQ refugees in Israel through community assistance, information and connections to relevant services.
Business-support initiative
Pride Tag
An initiative enabling businesses to signal support for the LGBTQ community and identify themselves as supportive spaces.
LGBTQ magazine · 1996
Pink Time
An LGBTQ community magazine published by the Aguda from 1996 through 2008, providing cultural and community-oriented content.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006National-service placements
Israel
The Aguda became a placement option for Israeli citizens exempt from military service who wished to perform national service.
Outcome. The arrangement broadened the organization's volunteer and service capacity.
- 1993Tel Aviv Pride Parade organization
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Aguda organized Tel Aviv's Pride Parade from 1993 through 2004 and later collaborated with the municipality in 2005 and 2006.
Outcome. Since 2007, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality has directed the parade.
- 1989Otzma political-action program
Israel
A political advocacy program focused initially on amending employment-equality protections and supporting strategic LGBTQ rights campaigns.
Outcome. Its work contributed to the 1992 amendment of Israel's Equal Employment Opportunities Law.
Brand decisions
2024
Respond to ILGA World membership suspensionOtherBackground
ILGA World suspended the Aguda's membership pending review after objections to a proposed conference in Tel Aviv and related human-rights concerns.
Action taken
The matter moved into an international organizational review process.
Aftermath
The suspension placed the Aguda's international affiliation and conference-hosting ambitions under review.
1993
Assume primary organization of Tel Aviv PrideOtherBackground
The public visibility of LGBTQ rights activism in Israel was increasing, creating a need for organized community events.
Action taken
The Aguda became the primary organizer of the Tel Aviv Pride Parade.
Aftermath
It retained the organizing role through 2004 and then shared responsibility with the municipality before municipal direction began in 2007.
1975
Adopt a legally acceptable founding nameStrategyBackground
The Israeli Associations Register would not initially accept the words gay or lesbian in the organization's name.
Action taken
The founders registered the organization as the Association for the Protection of Individual Rights.
Aftermath
The organization later expanded and changed its operating name as the legal and social environment evolved.
Sources2 sources
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