Brody's Notes... Israel Names First Openly Gay Judge

Dori Spivak Photo From Facebook

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) FEB 22 | LGBTQ equality rights activists in Israel are hailing the appointment of that country's first openly Gay judge to the Tel Aviv Labour court on Sunday.

Dori Spivak, a graduate of the Harvard Law School and the deputy director of the Tel Aviv University's law clinics, is the former chairman of Israel’s Association for Civil Rights.

Spivak has been involved in several high profile Israeli Gay rights cases, including the Supreme Court’s landmark 1997 decision forcing a state channel to broadcast a programme about Gay & Lesbian teenagers.

"He is an experienced legalist when it comes to human rights and labor laws," Spivak's colleague, Professor Eyal Gross from the Tel Aviv University said.

Dan Yakir, senior lawyer for the ACRI told Israeli newspaper Ynet:

"As a personal friend and a partner in the civil rights struggle I can say this is an excellent choice. Dori is an expert on equality at work and health rights. He will contribute to developing human rights at the work place."

Mr Spivak’s longtime partner, law professor Dr Yishai Blank, added: “It's a happy occasion for us personally and also for the state.”