This course traces the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Israel from 1948 to the present day. With particular attention to the ways that sexual identity intersects with nationality, ethnicity, religion, class, and gender, the course showcases the historically contingent nature of not only homosexuality but also heterosexuality and gender identity. By emphasizing the gradual emergence of sexual identities in dialog with other social phenomena in the Israeli context, we will understand the central role that sexuality has played in Israeli cultural history. Topics include the emergence of Zionist masculinity, sexual policing, the tension between global and local sexual identities, AIDS crisis, army service, gay tourism, the Eurovision song contest, pinkwashing, and queer politics.

Class Format:

As a DC (Distance due to COVID) course, all aspects of this course will be fully compatible with remote online learning. However, students will need to be available for virtual class meetings at their scheduled times.