The National Association of GLBT in Israel will begin a tour of the US and Canada on March 5, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 3, 2010 --

The National Association of GLBT in Israel, known as the Aguda, will be celebrating their 35th year of service and support of GLBT rights and issues and providing social services to the GLBT community in Israel. The Aguda has been the founding father of many of the GLBT organization in Israel and is the only national GLBT organization offering programs ranging from our youth services to our all new HIV-AIDs awareness website along with Project Barak our educational program. The Aguda is presently trying to build an all new national social services program that will stretch from border to border and encompass all of Israel regardless of religion, origin or sexual orientation.

On August 1, 2009, a masked gunman burst in our facilities during our Youth-Bar program and opened fire killing two and injuring dozens more. In the aftermath, a huge problem was brought to light.. The governments social services and social workers have not been trained or educated in dealing with GLBT issues. Without intent, they caused additional heartache and traumas to the wounded and their families.

In recent meetings with the ministry, the Minister of Social Services issued a mandate to the Aguda to build network of national network of social services to deal with the GLBT community. This new project will be funded by a private public effort.

Mike Hamel the Chairperson of the Aguda, since 2004, who is considered the leading expert on GLBT issues in Israel and has been involved in social reform and the protection of human rights for his entire life will be visiting the United States and Canada in March 2010.

Mike will be accompanied by Chen Langer, a young volunteer with the Aguda youth program who was shot during the recent tragedy and Chen Katz, who along with her brother Nir were also volunteer Counselors at the Youth Program and Nir was killed in the shooting.

Mike will share the history of the Aguda and the GLBT movement in Israel. Followed by Chen's story about the shooting and the aftermath.

And this will be followed by a presentation of an all new video film about the Aguda and our programs along with the frame work for the new social service network.

This will be a very exciting evening with many new things to report from Israel. Chen and Chen are very enthusiastic speakers and Mike is an authority on Human Rights in Israel. The program will be concluded with questions from the audience

For more details visit our website at www.glbt.org.il

All events are open to the public and free of charge

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