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3/10/2011

COMMUNITY ACTION

RESPONDING COLLECTIVELY TO ONGOING THREATS OF COMMUNITY IDENTITY

As a community event with an annual attendance of 60,000, Frameline film festival is the most prominent and well-attended LGBT cultural arts program in the San Francisco Bay Area. An ongoing threat to boycott the Festival due to the inclusion and support of Israeli culture provides a community organizing model to learn from. This document provides a summary of how one organized Jewish community continuously responds and prepares for ongoing threats of identity in a peaceful and collective manner. Included in the following pages are some of the published and unpublished statements and reactions. Additionally included are a few behind the press interactions between community lay leaders and professional staff to comprehensively ensure that general support for this local festival continues along with the ongoing inclusion of Israeli programs.

Bay Area Reporter: Editorial ..............................................................................................................................................................2 Standing with Frameline ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Bay Area Reporter: Open Forum .......................................................................................................................................................3 QUESTIONING FRAMELINE ON ISRAELI SUPPORT ................................................................................................................................. 3 Bay Area Reporter: Letters to the Editor ...........................................................................................................................................4 Kudos to Israeli Consulate...................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Frameline and Israel .............................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Lights, camera, action! .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 LGBTs must show solidarity with Palestine ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Israel is a member of world community ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Worsening situation for Palestinians ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 San Francisco Bay Times: News Feature ............................................................................................................................................7 Controversy Plagues San Francisco LGBT Film Festival.......................................................................................................................... 7 San Francisco Chronicle: Community Reporting ................................................................................................................................8 Frameline34 and the Israeli Consulate .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Bay Area Reporter: News Feature .....................................................................................................................................................9 Protests target Frameline screenings .................................................................................................................................................... 9 Bay Area Reporter: Political Notebook ............................................................................................................................................ 10 Queer activists reel over Israel, Frameline ties .................................................................................................................................... 10 Behind the Press: Supporting Frameline .......................................................................................................................................... 12 Hi from the Israel Center & the Jewish Federation .............................................................................................................................. 12 Thanks & Support ................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Drafting Letters to the Bay Area Reporter ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Community Partner Outreach.............................................................................................................................................................. 14 QUIT Bus Shelter and Out in Israel Posters .......................................................................................................................................... 16 Social Media: Supporting Frameline ................................................................................................................................................ 17 Twitter on Frameline @JEWISHLGBT ................................................................................................................................................... 17 Get Out to Frameline! .......................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Visual images: QUIT at work ............................................................................................................................................................ 20

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Standing with Frameline


ISSUE: VOL. 41 / NO. 10 / 10 MARCH 2011
The Israeli Consulate's past financial support of Frameline, the acclaimed and long-running LGBT film festival, touched off a dustup in the Bay Area Reporter's letters to the editor. The calls by some LGBT filmmakers and other activists for a "cultural boycott" of this year's festival is misguided because it holds Frameline responsible for the government of Israel. We stand with Frameline in its past decisions to accept the support of the Israeli Consulate and we urge readers to support Frameline as well. Frameline is currently in the process of selecting films for this summer's festival and has not yet confirmed any from Israel. We support an important San Francisco LGBT institution Frameline as it endeavors to present some of the most cutting edge and important LGBT films to its audiences. Frameline is an arts and culture organization, it does not take formal political positions on any country or culture. A boycott to force Frameline to refuse grants from the Israeli Consulate will not solve the differences between Israelis and Palestinians. Executive Director K.C. Price noted that the festival's aim is promoting LGBT voices from around the world. Price also pointed out that Israeli films screened by Frameline often have highly critical points of view about their own country. Three years ago, Frameline screened (and now distributes) Citizen Nawi, a documentary about a tireless Israeli activist who champions Palestinians living in the South Hebron Hills. Frameline's mission is to strengthen and further the diverse LGBT world community by supporting and promoting a broad array of cultural representations and artistic expression in film, video, and other media arts. It usually receives financial support from one or more consulates each year. Over the past decade, Frameline received funds from the Israeli Consulate approximately four times, which was mostly used to pay for travel and related expenses to San Francisco for prominent LGBT Israeli filmmakers such as Eytan Fox (Yossi and Jaeger) and Tomer Heymann (Paper Dolls). Last year the festival screened two feature length films from Israel, a narrative (Eyes Wide Open) and a documentary (Gay Days); and with a $1,500 grant from the consulate, Frameline flew in Yair Qedar, the director of Gay Days . Significantly, Israel is the only country in the Middle East that affords legal rights to gays and lesbians. It has allowed open military service for years. It has no sodomy laws or vague statutes like "offenses against religion" or "immoral conduct." In contrast, same-sex sexual activity is punishable in many Middle Eastern countries, where there is no recognition of our relationships, no adoption, and no anti-discrimination laws. Gays fleeing persecution in Palestine usually go to Israel. A cultural boycott of Frameline will only hurt the organization and not bring peace or settle long-standing disputes in the Middle East. Life in Israel is undoubtedly not perfect for lesbians and gays just as it's not perfect for LGBTs in the U.S. at least it is a democracy that struggles to support gay rights and is willing to submit to self-criticism by its citizens. If anything, Frameline, in its capacity as a film presenter, is able to foster open dialogue about the current political situation in Israel. By reaching out to Frameline in previous years, the Israeli Consulate has shown a willingness to support out filmmakers, even those who may tell a story the government doesn't like. While gay and lesbian issues usually go unaddressed or are condemned in the Middle East, Israel's support of Frameline is an example we'd like to see other countries emulate.

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QUESTIONING FRAMELINE ON ISRAELI SUPPORT


ISSUE: VOL. 41 / NO. 9 /24 FEBRUARY 2011
As queers for human rights and justice, we are writing to make our community aware that last year, for the first time since 2006, Frameline accepted monetary support for its festival from the Israeli Consulate. At the very same time, attacks on Palestinian civilians and international human rights activists in Gaza were intensifying and the building of settlements, against international law, was continuing. LGBT Palestinians have asked international queers to respect the cultural and academic boycott of Israel called by Palestinian civil society in 2005. Please read their statement at http://pqbds.wordpress.com/. The call of Palestinian civil society makes it clear that any institution that is sponsored by or partnering with any agency of the Israeli government is a target of boycott by people who support a just peace in the region. Mainstream media would have us believe that Israel is the only true democratic state in the Middle East, offering freedom to LGBTQI people and women. But Palestinian and Israeli queers themselves have refuted this mythologized image. We recognize that the struggle for LGBTQI rights must occur in the context of the liberation of all people, including Palestinians. We are, therefore, asking you as a filmmaker to support the call that Frameline, the San Francisco LGBT

Film Festival, not accept financial sponsorship by the Israeli Consulate. We cannot say that we are for the liberation of
all queers, if we do not respect the call of Palestinian queers to act in solidarity with their struggle for liberation. The Israeli government is specifically targeting the LGBTQI community in a campaign to "rebrand" Israel as a progressive, queer-friendly democracy. We call this a "pinkwashing" of the brutal realities that Palestinian face under an illegal military occupation. We ask filmmakers, whether or not they are submitting to this year's festival, to support the struggle for peace and justice by letting Frameline's directors know they cannot allow their films to be shown at an event with Israeli sponsorship. We also urge organizations that are invited to co-present films at the festival to ask Frameline whether they are accepting Israeli sponsorship before agreeing to participate. (Note that we are not trying to tell Frameline what films to show and are not yet calling for a boycott of the festival.) In joining the cultural boycott, you will stand with a growing number of queer filmmakers for human rights, including Elle Flanders, John Greyson, Maher Sabry and Sonia deVries, and writers such as Adrienne Rich and Sarah Schulman. Queer rights are human rights, and human rights are queer rights. For more information go to www.quitpalestine.org Sonia deVries, director, Gay Cuba ; John Greyson, director, Fig Trees and Lilies; Elle Flanders, director, Zero Degrees of Separation ; Erica Marcus, director, My Home, My Prison; Eric Stanley, co-director, Criminal Queers and Homotopia ; Matthilda Bernstein Sycamore, co-director, All That Sheltering Emptiness; Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism; South West Asian and North African Bay Area Queers; ASWAT Palestinian Gay Women; Israeli Queers for Palestine; Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (Toronto); QTEAM (Montreal); and Birthright Unplugged Page 3 of 20

Kudos to Israeli Consulate


Issue: Vol. 41/ No. 11 / 17 March 2011
I read the letter "Questioning Frameline on Israeli support" in the February 24 issue. My response is, kudos to the Israeli Consulate for supporting this gay cultural institution in San Francisco. It never ceases to amaze me how the Palestinian apologists ignore the religious persecution of gays in the Gaza Strip by Hamas and presumably portray themselves as supporters of queer rights. Don't fall for these distortions. Gary Anderegg Oakland, California

Frameline and Israel


Issue: Vol. 41 / No. 10 / 10 March 2011
We write on behalf of our organizations to respond to the call by LGBT individuals for a cultural boycott of Israel at the Frameline Festival a call whose moral logic we find deeply troubling and pernicious [Mailstrom, February 24]. Not even the Palestinian Authority, let alone other Arab governments revolutionary, autocratic, or monarchic is willing to support the showing of gay films as an expression of their national culture. Members of the LGBT community are suppressed and punished throughout the Middle East, except in one country where gays are protected by law, serve openly in the military and parliament, and are welcome in all facets of life and that is Israel. This isn't a political interpretation or a PR spin, it is simply the plain truth. Why then should Israel, of all nations, be boycotted at Frameline or anywhere? Israel, as France, Switzerland, and Germany, supports the sharing of its culture with the people of the Bay Area, and brings Israeli films of all types, including films like Lebanon and Arab Labor, which are introspective and self-critical. Numerous organizations have worked with the Israeli Consulate on quality programming, including during last year's Out in Israel Festival, which provided a rare opportunity to bring quality Israeli LGBT culture to the Bay Area. Films were shown depicting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in all its complexity and a panel was presented on LGBT perspectives on Zionism, which broke new intellectual ground and was highly diverse. And yet posters for the event were repeatedly ripped down or defaced. Branding Israel as an apartheid or terrorist state is an Orwellian use of language. You don't have to agree with particular governmental policies, but Israel is a victim of terror, not a purveyor of it. And whatever its faults, there is nothing apartheid about Israel's multiracial and multicultural society. The Israel National Film Fund routinely supports the production of Israeli film representing a wide array of cultural and political perspectives simply because they are high quality expressions of Israeli culture. These are hallmarks of a society that is remarkably open and should be communicated with, not boycotted perhaps we will even learn something. We hope that Frameline which is a very important institution in San Francisco will not give in to doctrinaire, antiIsrael bullying parading as a social cause. Page 4 of 20

Ruvim Braude, President Rabbi Doug Kahn, Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council Jennifer Gorovitz, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Community Federation

Lights, camera, action!


Issue: Vol. 41 / No. 10 / 10 March 2011
I was astonished by the misguided and myopic letter from some rag-tag extremists and radical filmmakers in the Bay Area Reporter. Contrary to their anti-Semitic rant a motley diatribe of mistruths and distortions Israel is clearly the only country in the entire Middle East where our LGBT brothers and sisters live in safety and dignity with legally protected human rights. In stark contrast, ask the vast majority of LGBT residents of Egypt, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, Iran, or Libya about their oppression under dictators or Islamist tyrants. In a number of Arab countries and Iran, being gay is a capital offense punishable by death. In Gaza, Hamas thugs routinely torture and murder gay people. We can only hope that the recent and unfolding revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya will bring a new era with more representative government and human rights for all, including LGBTs, but that is not pre-ordained. An alternative scenario could see extremist Islamists gain power quashing hopes for LGBT liberation in the Arab/Iranian world. Moreover, I just returned from Israel and can report our Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and other LGBT brothers and sisters enjoy an absolutely fabulous gay lifestyle in Tel Aviv that many here would envy believe me! Or go discover for yourself and enjoy the Tel Aviv Gay Pride Celebration, June 5-12, 2011. Meanwhile, Frameline, please continue your cooperation with the Israeli Consulate and Israeli filmmakers. Lights, camera, action! David J. Blumberg San Francisco

LGBTs must show solidarity with Palestine


Issue: Vol. 41 / No. 10 / 10 March 2011
I completely agree with the writers of the letter, "Questioning Frameline on Israeli support" that it is inappropriate for Frameline to accept sponsorship from the Israeli government. Especially now when Israel is laying siege to the people in Gaza, expanding its colonies in the West Bank, and ignoring condemnation of its awful and lethal raid on the Gaza aid flotilla for Frameline to accept money from the Israeli government is reprehensible and our community needs to let them know that this is unacceptable. The fact that gay and lesbian rights in the occupied Palestinian territories are less progressive than in Israel is not relevant here. Israel is a gross violator of human rights, and the LGBT community must show solidarity with the Palestinians as well as Tibetans and other oppressed peoples. Until all of us are free, none of us are free. Jeff Pekrul San Francisco

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Israel is a member of world community


Issue: Vol. 41 / No. 10 / 10 March 2011
I am writing in reply to the letter that suggests that the LGBT community must oppose any connection between Frameline and the Israeli Consulate. Israel is home to a vibrant and diverse LGBT community that has given rise to much outstanding cultural expression, including in film. And in recent years, Israel has produced more progressive legislation and court decisions in the areas of sexual orientation and LGBT rights than many Western countries. Last June I marched with more than 40,000 people in Tel Aviv's annual gay Pride Parade. And in August, thousands of LGBT people and allies marched through Jerusalem to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, demanding further advancements in LGBT equality in Israel. Israel is a place where LGBT people have much freedom to live their lives, to criticize their government, and to join the struggle for further human rights. In most other parts of the Middle East, LGBT people dare not say who they are. It is not pinkwashing to tell the truth, nor to learn about and support the LGBT communities of Israel. There is much valid criticism that could be made of the actions of the current leaders of the Israeli government, as well as of the actions of the current leaders of the Palestinian people. Yet there are many ways to work for change, there are many ways to move toward peace. There are numerous organizations doing remarkable work in advancing the cause of human rights throughout Israel, and in working toward peace, without denying Israel's right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people. People in the LGBT community can join in the work for a just end to the problems in the Middle East without needing to follow this call for anti-Zionism. The Boycott Israel (BDS) movement is about nothing less than the destruction and de-legitimization of Israel, which is why the vast majority of Americans, LGBT people, and San Franciscans oppose it. Israel is a legitimate member of the world community. And as Frameline does with many countries, if those countries want to support bringing the directors of their films to Frameline so that we can hear their voices, Frameline should be free to accept such support. Last year Frameline featured the film Gay Days at the festival, a documentary by my friend Yair Qedar, about the history of the LGBT movement in Tel Aviv. Yair was able to come to the festival due to the funding provided by the Israeli Consulate. His voice deserved to be heard, and we all benefited from hearing it. I hope that someday there are LGBT films coming out of many countries of the Middle East, along with Israel, and that the governments of those countries will want to help support their LGBT artists. Until then, let us celebrate the LGBT film and culture that is thriving in the world, including in Israel. Arthur Slepian, Executive Director A Wider Bridge [The author is also the chair of the Advisory Committee of the LGBT Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation.]

Worsening situation for Palestinians


Issue: Vol. 40 / No. 23 / 10 June 2010
After three years, the Israeli Consulate is once again an official sponsor of the 2010 LGBT Film Festival. During this time the political situation for Palestinians has only worsened. Israel has targeted the LGBT community with a "Brand Israel" campaign to attempt to prove Israel is an open and progressive country. As LGBT activists for human rights for all people we should not allow ourselves to be fooled by the facade of Israeli advertisements. Behind the sleek ad campaigns are the reality of Israel's oppressive policies under which Palestinians have suffered massacres, starvation, military occupation, and the abrogation of all human rights. LGBT Palestinians do not benefit by Israel's ostensible openness to LGBT people. Page 6 of 20

Those of us who oppose Israel's policies that continue to deny basic human and civil rights to Palestinians are gathering at 6 p.m. to picket the opening night (Thursday June 17) of the festival, declaring that, as LGBTs concerned with justice, we don't want or need Israel's money in support of our film festival. Our community should join with other artists such as Adrienne Rich, Elvis Costello, and Arundahti Roy to pressure the Israeli government to honor the rights and selfdetermination of all Palestinians. Carla Schick Oakland, California

Controversy Plagues San Francisco LGBT Film Festival


June 17, 2010 by Erica Marcus
Queer Human Rights activists to Picket Opening Night: What is a dedicated film goer to do? If I have been in town, I have never missed the Opening Night of Frameline, the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender International Film Festival. But the day of reckoning has arrived. I got to make a decision. The festival, which opens today and runs until June 27 at the Castro, Roxie, Victoria and at Berkeleys Rialto Cinemas, is like the High Holy Days for filmloving queers, and the cruising is always exquisite. But this year, I have a real dilemma. Some of my favorite queer human rights activists have called for a boycott and picket of the festivals opening night at the Castro. What the hell is going on? The SouthWest Asian and North African Bay Area Queers, the Arab Resource and Organizing Center and Queers Underming Israeli Terrorism (QUIT!) are upset because for the first time since 2007, the Israeli Consulate-General is listed among the festival sponsors. I contacted Bassam Kassab, the co-producer of the Egyptian queer film, All My Life which played at Frameline in 2008. I was shocked to learn that the Frameline Film Festival accepted the Israeli governments sponsorship. Kassab told me. The progressive film community and the LGBT community should reject tainted money from any government that picks and chooses which human rights it respects. The right to food and water for Palestinian children and the right to life for human rights activists on flotilla ships cannot be trumped by the Israeli governments PR campaign to portray a few blocks in Tel Aviv as the gay haven of the Middle-East, which this boycott call refers to as pinkwashing. I wondered if pinkwashing was some kind of new water sport. Bassam explained that it is not as much fun. Apparently, the Israeli government is targeting the LGBT community in its attempt to improve its image worldwide. In San Francisco, there recently was a month-long celebration called Out in Israel. QUIT!s Kate Raphael, who is a Community Grand Marshal of
Opening Night Protesters holding Dont Pink Wash Israels Crime A few hundred community members gathered in front of the Castro Theatre on Frameline Opening night. Some held signs reading, "Dont pink wash Israels crimes"

the LGBT Freedom Day Parade this year, told me that the Opening Night picket line is going to be pretty darn visible Page 7 of 20

and loud, and she hopes the LGBT folks and their allies who respect human rights will not cross it. We hope that this will convince festival organizers not to accept Israeli blood money and support in the future. Jennifer Morris, Frameline Festival Director, explains their point of view, As long as the protesters are polite to folks who are coming to Opening Night, I totally support their free expression of speech. The Jewish Community Federation and the Israeli Consulate together are just providing funds to fly the director of the film Gay Days (6/25, Castro) from Israel. No other entities have ever offered to provide us with airfare for a filmmaker. Only consulates or other cultural organizations like the Goethe Institute have done this in the past. This year, the Norwegian Consulate is also supporting filmmaker travel. Raphael replied We are not trying to tell the festival what films to show or what directors to bring as guests, and we are not asking people to boycott the festival. What we are saying is that taking sponsorship from an Israeli Half-dozen supporters of Israel outside government that consistently violates international law, most recently by killing unarmed international civilians in international waters violates the spirit the Castro Theatre on Frameline Opening Night June 2010 of Stonewall. Hmm, those commandos attacking the Gaza aid flotilla were pretty upsetting, and I can only imagine that the drag queens who stood up to the police at Stonewall would not want Frameline to take money in their name. So I guess I am going to honor the picket and boycott and miss the Opening Night film, The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister.

Frameline34 and the Israeli Consulate


Monday, June 21, 2010 by Leah Garchik
There was a brass band outside the Castro Theatre on Thursday before the Frameline34 opener ("The Secret Diaries of Miss Ann Lister") playing rhythmic music that set pulses a-thumping merrily. But as I approached, I realized there was not much merry about two crowds of protesters in front of the theater: Frameline34 is showing three Israeli movies, and the Israeli Consulate is providing support to bring in the documentarian who made "Gay Days." One large group carried signs: "Israeli Government Out of Frameline"; "Don't Pinkwash Israel's Crimes." A flyer from the anti-Israel group said, "We are not so desperate for acceptance that we will ally ourselves with racists and murderers." A separate, smaller group of demonstrators waved blue and white flags and identified Israel as "one of the most progressive countries on LGBT issues in the world, even while it sits in a neighborhood of some of the worst offenders." "We understand this is a very sensitive subject for both sides," Frameline Executive Director K.C. Price said Friday morning. "As an arts and cultural organization, we try to stay nonpartisan." The fracas reminded me of the controversy that erupted last summer when the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival showed a movie sympathetic to the Palestinian point of view. They're movies, guys, and they reveal to us aspects of life

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we don't see in front of us. Broadening our worldviews, listening to everyone, is the whole point. Sitting there in the dark is supposed to be illuminating.

Protests target Frameline screenings


Issue: Vol. 37 / No. 25 / 6 June 2007 by Matthew S. Bajko
Frameline's Michael Lumpkin, left, talks with demonstrator Patty Johnston as Marcy Fraser, center, and Jennifer Worley look on. About a half-dozen people protested Frameline's decision to pull The Gendercator from the film festival. Photo: Jane Philomen Cleland

Protests against the pulling of a film from Frameline's schedule, and Israeli sponsorship of another movie, book-ended the first weekend of the LGBT film festival. Half a dozen demonstrators, including a trans man and a trans woman, stood outside the Roxie in the Mission Friday night to protest the removal of The Gendercator, a short film about a lesbian who wakes up in a future where butch dykes are forced to become men, after it had been accepted into the festival. Frameline made the unprecedented decision to pull the film by director Catherine Crouch after transgender activists and their allies launched a petition drive, calling the movie transphobic. The action angered many lesbians who have decried what they see as censorship and the silencing of a lesbian filmmaker. They have demanded Frameline apologize to Crouch, reinstate the film in the festival prior to its completion this Sunday, and pledge to never pull another film after it has been accepted. "We think it is a bad precedent," said San Francisco resident Marcy Fraser as she passed out fliers to moviegoers and passersby. "We think it is counter to the mission of Frameline." Fraser, who saw the film last week, said while "it is not a great movie, that is not the issue. If all the movies have to meet some standard, there won't be any films shown." A nurse and former member of Frameline, Fraser said she still planned to see films in this year's festival. As for renewing her membership, she said, "It depends on how they handle it." Joachim Post, a programmer with the Hamburg International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, in town scouting for movies to screen, exited from the theater to find the protest. He said his festival, despite some opposition, will screen the film in October. "I still think you should screen the films and let the audience discuss it," said Post. "The whole thing is really unpleasant. It is good someone is telling the audience because they would not know otherwise." Frameline artistic director Michael Lumpkin, speaking to the protesters that night, said he understands their concerns but was fearful showing the film would have resulted in "an angry mob" showing up to the theater. "We also had the fear of the transgender community walking away from Frameline and our film festival," he said. Oakland resident Max Dashua, a butch lesbian and organizer of the protest, retorted, "What about the lesbian community? Is it important for us to feel welcome?" Oakland resident Alicia "Joey" Brite, in a phone interview, called Frameline's decision "shameful" and could make filmmakers self-censor themselves in order to ensure their films would be screened by the festival. "If they start down that path it is going to change our culture into one riding right along in lockstep with homeland security, the Bush administration, all of this stuff we are already in fear of now. Artists are already being squelched in this atmosphere of fear and political correctness," said Brite. Brite said there are talks of screening the film in San Francisco sometime this summer. Crouch did not respond to a request for comment last week, and Lumpkin said nothing has been planned of yet. If anything, Brite said the controversy will not end when the festival does. "Frameline would not want a bunch of our big mouths contacting their big sponsors and saying we are seriously going to consider pulling our sponsorship of those companies as well," said Brite. "Michael Lumpkin made a huge mistake and pulled out a big old can of whoop-ass from lesbians. We will take our money elsewhere." Protesters outside the Castro Theatre prior to the screening of Eytan Fox's The Bubble Monday, June 18 would like to see nothing more than one Frameline sponsor drop out: the Israeli Consulate-General for the Pacific Northwest. Page 9 of 20

Supporters of an international cultural boycott of Israel due to its "illegal occupation of Palestine" handed out fliers to those waiting to see the film, calling on Frameline to sever ties with the Israeli Consulate. The consulate paid for Fox to come to San Francisco, and Consul General David Akov and his wife, Tamar, whom Lumpkin thanked from the stage, attended the screening. In his remarks to the audience, Fox addressed the controversy surrounding his film and asked that no one "disrupt" the showing of the movie."The film is trying to demonstrate against what you are," said Fox of the movie he directed and co-wrote about the tragic gay love story between a Jew and a Palestinian. "There are people trying to live in coexistence together. We can talk about, even shout about, these things after the film." The film opened in Israel last July, two weeks prior to the country's war with Lebanon. The title is a derisive term for Tel Aviv, viewed as a progressive, anti-war city largely unmarred by the violence experienced in the rest of the country. The film flopped, largely due to a nationalistic attitude sweeping Israel during the fighting, though Fox said DVD sales this spring have been brisk. Fox is also an outspoken critic of his country's policies. "Israel's done so many mistakes in the Middle East with our relationship to Arabs and Palestinians," he said. Arab film festivals have refused to show the movie, said Fox, because along with its homosexual story line, the Israeli government and Army backed it. The movie has also been criticized because the Arab character becomes a suicide bomber in the end. Fox said he struggled with the ending and allowed the film could have done better to explain why the character makes such a decision. Nonetheless, he said, "I think it is the only ending possible. I don't think the film portrays a man who wants to go kill Jews. He wants to kill himself. He feels no way out." "It is a tragic, terrible ending, but so are so many stories in our area of the world," he added.

Queer activists reel over Israel, Frameline ties


Issue: Vol. 37/ No. 20 / 17 May 2007 by Matthew S. Baijko
The producers of Frameline, the city's LGBT film festival that kicks off two weeks prior to Pride, are knee deep in last minute preparations for this year's 10-daylong homage to queer cinema. They also find themselves in the thicket of IsraeliPalestinian politics.

At issue is the fact that for the last several years, the Israeli Consulate-General in San Francisco has been listed among the sponsors of the festival. The consulate, as the French, Canadian, and other consulates do for their own citizens, mainly helps to cover the transportation costs for Israeli filmmakers whose movies are being screened. "It is not a huge amount of money. It allows us to have the filmmaker here and really enriches the experience for our audience," said Frameline managing director Matt Westendorf. But queer cineastes are petitioning festival organizers to drop Israeli sponsorship due to what they see as the Jewish state's mistreatment of Palestinians. "It is disingenuous when people talk about Israel as some beacon of hope for queers. It is impossible to talk about freedom of queer folks in an apartheid state," said Heba Nimr, who is of Palestinian and Egyptian descent and who has attended Frameline for more than a decade. "It is a racist state and a particularly egregious violator of human rights and has been since its founding." A spokeswoman for the Israeli consulate did not respond to a request for comment.

QUIT! Founder Kate Raphael. Photo: Jane Philomen Cleland

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About a year ago, Palestinian artists and their allies, including some Israelis, called for a cultural boycott of the Israeli government because of what they contend is an "appalling disregard for international law and human rights." More than 100 artists and writers including filmmakers Sophie Fiennes, Elia Suleiman, Ken Loach, Haim Bresheeth , and Jenny Morgan ; writers John Berger , Arundhati Roy, Ahdaf Soueif, and Eduardo Galeano; and musicians Brian Eno and Leon Rosselson have signed on to a petition being circulated and presented to cultural events around the world. Petition organizers said film festivals in Edinburgh, Scotland and Locarno, Italy have headed their call and are now pressing Frameline to sign on to the boycott. The local pressure is being organized by members of QUIT! Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism and the Southwest Asian and North American queer community. They liken it to the boycott against Coors Brewing Company due to the owner of the beer maker funding antigay groups. "Israel has violated 90 resolutions of the United Nations. We feel many queers would not want our cultural institutions to be partnering with a government like that," said QUIT! founder Kate Raphael, who also led a boycott against the World Pride held in Jerusalem. In March, Frameline received the petition with more than 100 signatories, including a dozen film festival members and volunteers, and several Frameline visionary and benefactor donors. Supporters are quick to note that they are not seeking a boycott of Israeli films or in any other way trying to interfere with artistic decisions, but only asking Frameline to not partner directly with the Israeli government. "We want to have a conversation with the festival," said Nimr. "Our preference is to meet with them before this year's festival. We will see what happens, but we would love to talk to them." Frameline's board and top management discussed the petition request, but decided not to discontinue its relationship with the Israeli consulate. Westendorf said while the board felt joining in a cultural boycott falls outside of Frameline's mission, the festival is open to having a dialogue with the petition organizers. "We recognize they are bringing up legitimate issues and an important debate," said Westendorf. "Our goal is to use media arts to build understanding between cultures. We really looked to our mission to make the decision. "We just feel part of our mission is engaging foreign governments and promoting queer film around the world," he added. "It has the potential to create dialogue and debate regarding queer issues, especially among government officials and that could affect policy. And that is a good thing." The dustup has some longtime Frameline contributors threatening to pull their financial support and activists mulling over what sort of protest or action to mount at this year's festival. "The last few years it has been really distressing to sit there at the Castro Theatre and see up on the screen or hear" about the Israeli consulate's involvement with the festival, said Campbell resident Soher Ussef, who donates $1,200 to be a Frameline visionary member each year. Ussef, a lesbian from Egypt, said many of her queer Middle Eastern friends are Palestinian and support the cultural boycott. "None of my friends are heavy attendees of the film festival as I am, but they will come to see certain films. We look at each other and our jaws drop when Israeli sponsorship comes on the screen," she said. Ussef contends that the festival's refusal to end its ties to the Israeli government is hurting its fundraising in the Bay Area's LGBT Arab community. "Absolutely, at this point I am really reconsidering whether I should continue my support," she said. "I really, really hope Frameline will reconsider and make the right decision not to accept further sponsorship from the Israeli consulate." Nat Smith, a black transgender queer filmmaker who has a short documentary in this year's festival, said he is perplexed as to why Frameline is jeopardizing its financial support over such a small amount of money. Were the festival to drop the Israeli sponsorship, Smith believes those backing the boycott would make up for the lost funds. Page 11 of 20

"I don't want to keep that filmmaker from coming to the festival. I am sure if people did a call to support funding to bring this filmmaker, people would come up with the money. I would donate and I have never donated before," said Smith, who intends to discuss the issue at this year's festival. "Hopefully, we can at least meet and they will make a decision about next year's funding." This year, at least, the Israeli government will be back on the sponsor's list. It is paying to fly filmmaker Eytan Fox , the director of The Bubble, to take part in a Q&A about his new movie, described as a queer Romeo and Juliet in which Noam, a handsome record-store attendant in Tel Aviv who serves part-time with the Israeli Army at a checkpoint on the border of the Palestinian territories, falls for Ashraf, a soulful Palestinian who crosses through the checkpoint one day, then turns up again on the gay party scene in Tel Aviv. According to a synopsis of the film, Noam and his group of gay friends oppose Israel's Palestinian policy and organize anti-occupation raves. Yet when Ashraf moves in with Noam, the couple is forced to confront political and family pressures that threaten to tear them apart. The 117-minute movie, shot in Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles, will be shown Monday, June 18 at the Castro Theatre and is co-presented by the Jewish Community Federation's LGBT Alliance.

Hi from the Israel Center & the Jewish Federation


BETWEEN DONNY INBAR & KC PRICE Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 Thanks, KC, As Im not in love with either Gila or Lipstika, I totally understand. I did hear great things about Tomers new documentary. Would you like me to talk to him? Hes an old friend. Best, Donny Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 Hi Donny Yes, its been quite busy with the BAR letters. Never ends, but the editorial was amazing. As far as potential Israeli films that we are looking into for the festival, here is a summary of what were working on: Weve viewed THATS GILA and saw LIPSTIKA in Berlin, and we are not going to invite those two films. We did extend an invitation to Eytan Foxs television show MARY LU to participate in the Festival. However, we just found out on Friday that Frameline wont be able to show it because they are going with a big screening at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival and they dont want to do another screening with Frameline. Oh well. Have you seen the musical? Its really entertaining. We do have one more invitation for an Israeli film that is out right now, and Im waiting on an answer -- its for Tomer Heymanns new documentary. I hope to here back on that in the next few days and will let you know. Thanks, Donny, and will follow up soon. Best wishes, K.C. K.C. Price, Executive Director, Frameline , 145 9th Street, Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94103 P 415.703.8650 x 302 F 415.861.1404 www.frameline.org Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 Hi Jennifer, KC, Following the unbelievable drama on the pages of the B.A.R. (WOW, what an editorial!), I thought Id better touch base with you guys about any possible Israeli films at this years Frameline. Page 12 of 20

I sent you the documentary Thats Gila, Thats Me, and have recently talked to Jonathan Segall, a filmmaker whose Lipstika (Odem) was recently in Berlin (not sure theyll send a screener). Do you have anything else thats worthy? What are the prospects? Lisa Finkelstein & I would love to help in any way, naturally. Let me know, Best, Donny

Thanks & Support


BETWEEN AL BAUM, LISA FINKELSTEIN & KC PRICE Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 6:00 PM Al, I spoke with many of the Frameline organizers last night - including KC. They were very stressed about the folks making a scene outside the theatre. They felt very supported by each of us reaching out to them. Thank you for reaching out. It made a difference. Just as an FYI - I posted a few of the photos from last night on our Twitter account. You can view them here: http://twitpic.com/tag/frameline Lisa Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 10:22 PM Hi, KC, I got the word today that you and Frameline got caught in the crossfire about the State of Israel and the Palestinians, and that you were standing firm against the pressure. So I wanted to write you, immediately, with my strongest support and admiration. I don't recall that you and I have talked about this, but the fact is that I am personally to the "left" on these matters: while strongly supportive of the existence of Israel, and a very active (though geographically distant) participant in the LGBT movement there for many years, I am also very critical of many policies of the Israeli government; I am one of the founders (in 1979!) of the New Israel Fund, currently a major target of right-wing forces in Israel, and a member of J Street, the newish and "controversial" lobby that is very different indeed from AIPAC, the "traditional" American Jewish lobby that supports Israel in nearly everything that it does. So I am critical AND supportive of Israel, whereas the people who have been pressuring you are critical and hostile to Israel. I happen to think that the present Consul-General, Akiva Tor, did a wonderful thing when he brought a number of LGBT artists and performers here from Israel in April, whatever the motivations of him personally or of the government he represents. And I believe that any film festival proves its value by presenting the widest variety of films and viewpoints. You and your staff may have a lot to handle on opening night, and possibly also when you show films from Israel (two of which I plan to attend.) I know you will successfully keep your cool, but if there is ANYTHING I can do to help you, before or during the Festival, please contact me and I'll do my very best to advise and assist. with all good wishes, Al

Drafting Letters to the Bay Area Reporter


BETWEEN: ARTHUR SLEPIAN, ABBY PORTH, AL BAUM, DONNY INBAR, LISA FINKELSTEIN , PAUL COHEN, RABBI DOUG KAHN, AKIVA TOR, JOSH WEISMAN Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 9:26 AM Hi Akiva and friends, I like your letter as well, (I didnt actually see it til last night, somehow missed it in the flood of email traffic yesterday morning while I was writing to meet the deadline) and I may borrow a few thoughts from it to strengthen mine, but I think you are right, it might be better as its own standalone letter. Of course, without the first person references to A Wider Bridge. Though if Donny or someone else authored it, I'd certainly be happy to have A Wider Bridge listed as one of the co-sponsors of Out in Israel. And I agree with Al. The word "chauvinism" doesnt make

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sense to me, so the last sentence would need to be re-written or deleted. My current 500 word letter is attached. After making a few more edits, I plan to submit it by tomorrow. Arthur Sent: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 10:55 PM I really like this, Akiva. But I would delete the last line: to me it doesn't work because I don't know what "chauvanism" means nor what it has to do with the subject. Al Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 9:17 AM Arthur I think your letter is excellent. I prepared an additional text which takes on the boycotters a bit more stridently. It might be good if it arrived at BAR as an additional letter from someone else perhaps JCRC or Israel Center. In any case we should definitely respond in full force. I spoke to Frameline yesterday they are annoyed by the attack on them and expect a very strong Jewish community response. Best Akiva - Akiva Tor Consul General Consulate of Israel to the Pacific Northwest 456 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94104 Tel: 415-8447501 Email:

cgoffice@sf.mfa.gov.il Web: www.israeliconsulate.org


Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 8:09 AM Friends, Here is a draft of a letter for the BAR. Copied below and attached. I have also provided further below the letter to which this is a response. Comments? Suggestions for improvement, Does anyone want to co-sign with me? The deadline for submission is noon today, but I really have until only about 10:30 am before i need to be on a different call. Thanks so much, Arthur

Community Partner Outreach


BETWEEN HARRIS KORNSTEIN , DONNY INBAR AND LISA FINKELSTEIN Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 3:03 PM Harris, Thank you for asking us to share our outreach and promotion strategies and any feedback on the community partnership program and I am sorry for the delay in my response. I have been out of the country for about 6 weeks returning only yesterday. So, in response to your question, in addition to the usual chains of emails that Donny and I send out via the LGBT Alliance and the Israel Center contact lists we were able to promote Frameline by adding a personal perspective to what we experienced. Our shared perspective was angled to hopefully encourage our online community of followers to join us, communicate about what they experienced and for the general media to pick up on the enthusiasm we share with queer LGBT independent film. We were able to publish quite a bit on Frameline this year via our blogs, Facebook pages, online calendar listings, and a few additional random social networking sites like LinkedIn mostly via our twitter feeds. Thank you and the entire Frameline team and board for moving through a challenging time this summer with grace. Thank you. Lisa Finkelstein There are about 40 tweets that mention our support for Frameline here are just a few highlights: Gay Days @framelinefest was truly amazing folks in the audience love it #Jewish #gay #israel #frameline Jun 25th LGBT Queer Jews get OUT to @framelinefest & support LGBT queer Jewish (often Israeli) independent film http://bit.ly/atkTUP 5:51 PM Jun 21st

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More photos & some video of protest @framelinefest of sponsorship by @sfIsrael http://flickr.com/ari/sets/72157624179612179/ #frameline 3:41 PM Jun 18th Discussion We Were There @framelinefest http://wewereherefilm.com #frameline http://flic.kr/p/8bXjK2 Jun 20th Just a few of the fabulous noise makers welcoming us to attend @framelinefest http://twitpic.com/1xoxqf Jun 17th Thank u @framelinefest We love u! Thanks for supporting queer LGBT independent film http://twitpic.com/1xou4l Jun 17th Frameline34 Tickets are now on sale to the General Public. Two programs are already at rush. Get your tix fast! http://bit.ly/9ETl5x 2:02 PM Jun 4th Give back to the community in a way that works for you final @framelinefest Volunteer Orientation 7:30 tonight 145 9th St 9:34 AM Jun 10th Zsa Zsa Gershick made a queer #ish short film 'Door Prize' screens 6.19 at 1:30 at Castro Theatre http://bit.ly/dCSq0j 11:43 PM Jun 9th Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 4:36 PM Dear Lisa, I'm writing to extend a huge THANK YOU to the LGBT Alliance & Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation for being a Community Partner for Frameline34! We had an excellent festival, and couldn't have done it without you! This was a phenomenal festival, with a truly outstanding program, great Q&A sessions, and several sold out houses. Here are some specific highlights: We screened 219 films -- features, documentaries, and shorts -- including work from 31 countries, including The Bahamas, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Hong Kong, Nepal, Peru, and Tunisia. We were also lucky to have 22 first-time feature filmmakers, 35 local filmmakers, and hundreds of filmmakers from out of town. Our attendance this year topped 57,000 guests! I'm thrilled to have worked with a fantastic group of 85 Community Partners to co-present films this year, representing diverse constituencies, vital services and many areas of work. And, through our Community Ticket Giveaway program, we gave away more than 7500 tickets, helping to make the festival affordable to our community's lower-income members and volunteers! Frameline once again presented several awards, including the AT&T Audience Awards and the return of the juried awards for Outstanding First Feature and Documentary. To see the list of winners, visit our brand new blog: http://blog.frameline.org/2010/06/frameline34-awards/. As we continue to struggle through tough economic times -- especially for many social service and arts organizations -I'm proud and humbled by the community support Frameline receives. The festival is truly about bringing people together, and I'm honored to be part of such a strong and resilient community. Along with my thanks, I still have two quick requests of you: 1) If you haven't already, please send me any EXAMPLES of PROMOTIONS you did around your film or the festival (emails, newsletter clippings, etc.). This helps me document the success of the Community Partner program. 2) Please share any FEEDBACK about this year's festival or the Community Partner program, as we do try to improve the festival each year! And, of course, we'll be in touch next year about being part of Frameline35! Thanks again, Harris Kornstein Community Engagement & Communications Coordinator Frameline 145 9th Street, Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94103 P 415.703.8650 x 304 F 415.861.1404 http://www.frameline.org

Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 9:19 PM

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Harris, We selected Donny Inbar as our LGBT Alliance & Israel Center primary contact for Frameline this year. So if he approved of the selection - Eyes Wide Open - you sent him too then please consider that our LGBT Alliance approval as well. Donny can also speak for the LGBT Alliance (if we are given the opportunity to speak before the show) and you can give him our 4 tickets to distribute. We will show up with our Jewish Fed. Postcards if possible on the show night to distribute ourselves. Best to you for a happy Pride season! Lisa Sent: Mon Apr 12 16:04:39 2010 Greetings, Thanks again for being a Community Partner for Frameline34 -- I'm so happy to have LGBT Alliance, Jewish Community Federation on board. I'm writing to let you know that we'd love LGBT Alliance, Israel Center Jewish Community Federation to present the following films program as our Community Partner at this year's festival: Eyes Wide Open & Gay Days with director Yair Qedar. Please note that we are still in the midst of scheduling the festival, so our film pairings are subject to change, and we cannot yet guarantee a specific screening date, time, or location. We are also busy writing synopses for our publications deadlines, so we cannot yet provide complete film information for all films. Again, we have done our best to pair your organization with a film that relates to your mission or appeals to your members; in many cases, you can find more information about your particular film on the Internet. Remember, as a co-presenter you receive the following benefits: Your organization will be listed in our program guide and on our website An opportunity to speak about your organization for one minute before the screening (excluding Castro Theatre screenings) An opportunity to distribute promotional materials at the theatre before the screening Four Complimentary Program Tickets In return we ask that you publicize your screening to your constituency via your website, newsletter, email blasts, and/or social networking sites -whatever works best for your organization. I will be in touch as the Festival gets closer with additional details for your screening, including materials to help with your outreach. Please do not publicize this film until we have announced our complete schedule in late May. Also, please help us in our mission to make the Festival accessible to everyone! If your group serves low-income or youth clients who cannot afford tickets to the festival, let me know and I'll add your organization to our Complimentary Ticket Giveaway database. Tickets will be for weekday matinee screenings at the Castro Theatre and will be mailed in June. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail at hkornstein@frameline.org or via phone at 415.703.8650 x304. Thanks again -- I look forward to your participation in our festival! Yours, Harris

QUIT Bus Shelter and Out in Israel Posters


Sent: Sun Jun 13 19:01:49 2010

Out in Israel bus signs vandalized with the statements, Tell Frameline to say NO! To blood money & pink washing Picket Opening Night of Frameline!

BETWEEN DONNY INBAR, AKIVA TOR, DOUG KAHN, LISA FINKELSTEIN, LITAL CARMEL & KC PRICE

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Dear friends, Please have a look at the truly disturbing new QUIT poster & let's talk over the phone 1st thing in the morning about the way we prepare for/react to the planned QUIT protest at the Frameline opening on Thursday. Best, Donny Donny Inbar, Ph.D. | Associate Director for Arts and Culture | the Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation | 121 Steuart St., San Francisco, CA 94105 | (o) (415) 512-6293 | (c) (415) 309-2494 | (f) (415) 278-0646 | www.jewishfed.org/israelcenter | donnyi@sfjcf.org Sent: Sun 6/13/2010 4:44 PM Hi Donny, As promised, here is the photo I took of the one in front of the Diesel store. It's so outrageous. Also, right after we talked, I spoke to John Haley from SF MTA (Bevan Dufty had him call me) and he's trying to get them taken down right now. Let's talk tomorrow, and as I mentioned I emailed Neta about this too and sent her the picture. Best, K.C.

Twitter on Frameline @JEWISHLGBT


June 10 June 27, 2010
My mama used to say that Allen Ginsberg spiritually helped raise her to raise me. I loved #Howl: anyone else? #Frameline 9:48 PM Jun 27th James Franco speaking on emboding Allen Ginsberg as a late 20's gay Jewish poet http://twitpic.com/20mp1h 9:34 PM Jun 27th Allen Ginsberg's HOWL opens on September 24th in New York & San Francisco! Save the date it is a moving & brilliant film! 9:29 PM Jun 27th Presented in HOWL is Allen Ginsberg a proud Jewish Homosexual living in San Francisco in 1957 Text 55333 input F116 to vote 9:26 PM Jun 27th Holy Howl My #ish mama always said Allen Ginsberg helped raise her now I understand why Thanks @framelinefest! Exceptional! 9:20 PM Jun 27th Gay Days @framelinefest was truly amazing folks in the audience love it #Jewish #gay #israel #frameline 3:00 PM Jun 25th We loved this film! Vote for the @framelinefest Israeli Film 'Gay Days' by texting 55333 & type D312 #frameline34 Fun & easy #spiritual or #ish #Jewish #ritual tips & suggestions to celebrate #queer #LGBT #Pride http://bit.ly/bGc7AW 4:36 PM Jun 23rd Gay & Jewish @MarcSmolowitz on his newest documentary "The Power Of 2" in @BreatheCA_BA podcast series http://shar.es/mETgV Our community is enriched by the inclusion of films that LGBT folks direct, produce & cospon... http://bit.ly/atkTUP 6:27 PM Jun 21st An easy look at the LGBT Jewish independent films to pay attention to @framelinefest http://bit.ly/atkTUP #frameline 5:56 PM Jun 21st Get out to @framelinefest & watch #LGBT #Jewish (which is often Israeli) independent film http://bit.ly/atkTUP #frameline 5:53 PM Jun 21st LGBT Queer Jews get OUT to @framelinefest & support LGBT queer Jewish (often Israeli) independent film http://bit.ly/atkTUP 5:51 PM Jun 21st a look into the many eyes of san francisco lgbt queer conflict on israel http://bit.ly/c5R8Rb #frameline @adl_national 1:17 PM Jun 21st Page 17 of 20

an interesting look into the many eyes of sf lgbt queer conflict on israel http://bit.ly/c5R8Rb #frameline @framelinefest 11:13 PM Jun 20th nice. city of borders playing on kqed right now! another kesher moment as a queer jew in the bay area 11:03 PM Jun 20th More photos & some video of protest @framelinefest of sponsorship by @sfIsrael http://flickr.com/ari/sets/72157624179612179/ #frameline 3:41 PM Jun 18th Discussion after We Were There @framelinefest http://wewereherefilm.com #frameline http://flic.kr/p/8bXjK2 4:05 PM Jun 20th @MarcSmolowitz "Postcard For Daddy" by Michael Stock is an unflinching, raw & honest look at sexual abuse, HIV, and reconciliation. A #frameline34 must-see 10:46 PM Jun 19th These 2 Bay Area LGBT Jewish leaders r powerful mentors & inspire my #ish activism http://twitpic.com/1xou4l #Jewish #LGBT 11:37 AM Jun 18th Queers singing out against Israel makes some feel under attack others part of a #ish community http://twitpic.com/1xosze 11:33 AM Jun 18th This fabulous queer Jew feels super #ish volunteering each year at @framelinefest http://twitpic.com/1xouwk We loved watching The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister the opening film @framelinefest 34 #Lesbian #LGBT 9:20 PM Jun 17th We love independent lgbt queer films & the @framelinefest board! Thank you! http://twitpic.com/1xp3i2 7:40 PM Jun 17th KC & Jennifer introduce the 219 films from 31 countries that @framelinefest screens http://twitpic.com/1xp1dx 7:33 PM Jun 17th Just a few of the fabulous noise makers welcoming us to attend @framelinefest http://twitpic.com/1xoxqf 7:20 PM Jun 17th A bit loud outside @framelinefest but not too loud to support LGBT independent film http://twitpic.com/1xovji 7:12 PM Jun 17th This fabulous queer Jew supports @framelinefest by volunteering! Todah! http://twitpic.com/1xouwk 7:10 PM Jun 17th Thank u @framelinefest We love u! Thanks for supporting queer LGBT independent film http://twitpic.com/1xou4l 7:07 PM Jun 17th Feeling a bit under attack...now we are inside the fabulous Castro Theatre! http://twitpic.com/1xosze 7:03 PM Jun 17th @framelinefest @indiewire named Frameline one of the Top 50 Film Festivals in the world! http://bit.ly/duM3dF What makes Frameline one of your faves? 4:35 PM May 12th via CoTweet framelinefest Frameline34 FilmFest iApp is now out! Download for your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. Free! Thanks @FilmFestReviews! http://bit.ly/aBRq0J 6:45 PM Jun 3rd framelinefest Frameline34 Tickets are now on sale to the General Public. Two programs are already at Rush. Get your tix fast! http://bit.ly/9ETl5x 2:02 PM Jun 4th New blog post: Allen Ginsberg's Lover Peter Orlovsky Passes Away http://bit.ly/btitOB 3:55 PM Jun 4th New blog post: Weekend Roundup: Frameline in the News http://bit.ly/dlX9JB 4:25 PM Jun 13th Blog Post: Support LGBT queer Israeli Jewish themed film at SF Frameline http://wp.me/pdKkX-13E #LGBT #Israel #Jewish #gay 11:45 PM Jun 13th New Blog Post: Support LGBT queer Israeli Jewish themed films at Frameline! http://wp.me/pdKkX-13E 3:22 PM Jun 11th

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Get Out to Frameline! http://wp.me/pdKkX-13E 12:14 PM Jun 11th via WordPress.com from The Embarcadero, San Francisco Give back to the community in a way that works for you: final @framelinefest Volunteer Orientation 7:30 tonight 145 9th St 9:34 AM Jun 10th Zsa Zsa Gershick made a queer #ish short film 'Door Prize' screens 6.19 at 1:30 at Castro Theatre http://bit.ly/dCSq0j 11:43 PM Jun 9th

Get Out to Frameline!


A blog post by Lisa Finkelstein, June 11, 2010
Frameline 34 LGBT International Film Festival begins next week! Founded in 1977, the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival is the longest-running, largest and most widely recognized LGBT film exhibition event in the world. As a community event with an annual attendance of 60,000, Frameline is the most prominent and well-attended LGBT arts program in the Bay Area. A wide array of films with LGBT queer Jewish directors, themes and subjects will of course be presented again this year and we have listed the films that we are excited to see ourselves below. The films we highlight include some that we are co-sponsoring with the Israeli Consulate of the Pacific Northwest. Of course, the professional and volunteer leadership of the LGBT Alliance includes folks with a very broad spectrum of views about all sorts of issues including various policies of the Israeli government. We unequivocally support the Israeli Consulate being an official co-sponsor of the Frameline Festival, as other consulates are. Our Bay Area community is enriched by the inclusion of the films that LGBT queer identified folks are directing, producing and cosponsoring with Frameline each year. We encourage everyone to attend, enjoy and discuss civilly their perspectives. Gay Days plays on Friday, June 25, 1:30 PM at the Castro Theatre. Filmmaker Yair Qedar captures this sudden, dramatic rise of the Israeli gay and lesbian community in this riveting documentary. Playing on Tuesday, June 22, 9:30 PM at the Victoria Theatre, Eyes Wide Open is a taut tale of forbidden love by Director Haim Tabakman. Equal parts first-rate independent art cinema and fascinating anthropological study of a tightly-knit conservative community, the film sparks against the backdrop of an Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem. Deep Red plays on Thursday, June 24, 11:00 AM at the Castro Theatre Directed by Eddie Tapero living in Israel Gur and Yuval will stop at nothing to make enough money for a fresh start in Berlin. But as they approach their goal, their tension grows until an unexpected event causes Gur to question their plan. Zsa Zsa Gershick directs and stars in Door Prize about the unique challenge for one individual to use the public restroom seen within the Fun in Girls Shorts on Saturday, June 19, 1:30 PM at the Castro Theatre. The HIV Story Project, Directed and Produced by LGBT Alliance leader Marc Smolowitz, is a multiplatform story-telling endeavor around HIV/AIDS that endeavors to emerge as a digital AIDS Quilt for the 21st Century showing on Saturday, June 26, 4:15 PM Victoria Theatre Howl by directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman present James Franco as the handsome young Gay, Jewish Allen Ginsberg shown on Sunday, June 27, 7:30 PM at the Castro Theatre Page 19 of 20

A few hundred community members gathered in front of the Castro Theatre on Frameline Opening night in June 2011. Some held signs reading, "Dont pink wash Israels crimes"

San Francisco Bay Area culture jammers targeted ads posted by the Israel advocacy group Stand With Us in Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations in January and February 2011. The posters placed over the Stand With Us posters which once read, Stop Palestinian Terrorism Teach Peace now read, Stop Israeli Apartheid. Human Rights for all is the Answer. Boycott Israel. The Stand With Us Posters were also requested to be removed due to the group complaints that the posters contributed to a climate of anti-Arab sentiment and Islamaphobia. San Francisco Bay Area culture jammers targeted ads posted by the Israel advocacy group Stand With Us in BART stations in February 2011. One of the posters placed over the Stand With Us poster read, Israel, Youre not fooling anyone. All Wolf since 1948

QUIT protester Kate Raphael demonstrated outside one of the Out in Israel events at the Roxie Theatre April 2010 Photo: Jane Philomen Cleland as reported in the BAR

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