Gender identity is an internal sense of self that may differ from biological sex assigned at birth, and LGBTQ+ individuals deserve respect and acceptance regardless of their identity; societal progress requires understanding that gender identity and sexual orientation are separate concepts, and that discrimination often stems from lack of self-acceptance and understanding rather than inherent wrongdoing.
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Inside Israel’s LGBTQ+ Scene || Pride, Culture, Community & Real Life!Added:
Nigerian trans TikTok star Abuja area mama found dead.
>> [music] >> I was born in a Christian family. Mhm.
And uh I remember even as a child, when I was 10, I prayed to Jesus every single night so he doesn't turn me into a gay person. Really? You get attracted to man and you're a man, you're gay.
If I'm attracted to a transgender, does that make me gay? A lot of us go through surgery, so we don't even have the organs anymore.
The reason people attack you and other transgenders is because they do not love themselves.
Welcome, Denise. Hi, thank you so much.
In the heart of Israel's vibrant and diverse society, the LGBTQ community stands as a powerful symbol of courage, resilience, and authenticity.
Across cities, towns, and neighborhoods, people from different backgrounds continue to build spaces where love, >> [music] >> identity, and self-expression can flourish.
From colorful pride celebrations [music] to supportive community centers, the LGBTQ community in Israel has helped shape a culture of openness and inclusion.
[music] Their voices have contributed to important conversations about equality, [music] dignity, and human rights, inspiring [music] many others to live honestly and without fear.
What makes [music] this community especially remarkable is its diversity.
It includes people [music] of many faiths, cultures, languages, and traditions, all united by the shared belief that everyone deserves respect and the freedom to be themselves.
Their stories [music] reflect determination.
It reflects hope and the strength that comes from standing [music] together.
In art, music, business, [music] education, and public life, LGBTQ individuals in Israel continue to make meaningful contributions [music] that enrich society.
They remind the world that progress is built when people embrace one another's humanity.
Above all, the LGBTQ [music] community in Israel represents something universal.
The desire to belong, to be seen, and to love openly. [music] Their journey continues to inspire a future rooted in acceptance, understanding, and pride.
In this episode, we will be meeting a young transgender from Eastern Europe.
We will get to know her struggles and how she [music] managed to be who and what she is today. So, stay tuned as we get to know and understand the life of transgenders >> [music] >> here in Israel.
>> [music] >> Dennis is here with us today and um there is so many things that I would like to know about um transsexual, their lives, what they believe in, and most of all, what actually made not them this time, but um Dennis herself to make this, you know, transformation.
So, Dennis, welcome to Crackhead. Thank you so much. So, Dennis, first of all, before I go into the what can you tell the audience about yourself? Well, um my name is Denise.
I'm 25. I was born and raised in Kazakhstan. I've been in Australia for uh 11 years, I believe.
And uh yeah, I started my transitioning journey around uh 4 years ago, I believe.
Um yeah. And well, here we are today. Yes, exactly. All right. Before before you started this journey, of course we all know you were born uh male.
At what point did you think that you were not comfortable with your gender and you decided to fix it?
Look, uh I uh grew up with a older sister. Mhm. So, uh in my eyes, I was the same as my sister. We We were I I didn't know the difference between two of us till my parents told me that I'm supposed to act differently or uh Your parents told you have to act differently.
>> Yeah, yeah, because uh I was too girly and stuff like that. So, they they told me that I should be a man, stuff like that, to man up. But uh it never really worked. Uh I remember myself being like 6 years old and it was hot in in um in Kazakhstan. So, my mother said, "Then take your shirt off." I took my shirt off and I automatically like covered myself. And my mother said, "Boys don't do that. Boys don't do that." And uh I think so, that's I only learned afterwards that I'm a boy. I never thought of myself as a boy.
In my opinion, it's just uh it was just a mistake.
So, you want us to understand that um when you were born, you thought you had the consciousness of a girl.
>> Yeah. So, at some stage in your life that you realized you were a boy. Yeah, because uh my people around me told me that I should act like a boy, uh the way the boy acts, yeah. But despite the fact that you had the the biology of a boy, you felt like a girl inside of you.
>> And um when you made this transition, is it because you found yourself in Israel?
>> [music] >> The history of the LGBTQ community in Israel [music] is a story of struggle, resilience, and gradual progress.
Like many societies around the world, LGBTQ people in Israel existed long before public recognition.
But for many years, they lived quietly due to social stigma and restrictive [music] laws. Because if you were still in Kazakhstan, do you think you would have No, no. If I if I were still in Kazakhstan, I would be dead by now, probably. Why?
>> Because uh that's uh the Kazakhstan used to be part of uh Soviet Union. All right.
>> a very, you know, very hard country to grow up as LGBTQ plus person. And um also it's a Muslim country.
>> Mhm. So uh a lot of religion isn't there, and uh all I knew about the people from my community is that they should be dead, basically. Mhm. That's that's the the main uh talking point uh ever since I was a child.
During the period of the British mandate in Palestine, laws inherited from British rule criminalized same-sex relations.
After the creation [music] of Israel in 1948, some of these laws remained in place.
LGBTQ [music] individuals often had little visibility and few safe spaces to express [music] themselves openly. So in Kazakhstan, if you're gay, if you're lesbian, if you're transgender, like is it taboo? Yeah, yeah. You should It cannot happen, basically happen. All right. So, is it because you wanted to transition that made you come to Israel? That's because of that. Yeah, yeah.
Like my grandfather is Jewish, so I could move to Israel. Mhm. And ever since I had internet at home, I learned that Israel is quite a accepting country accepting country. Uh So, yeah. So, I really wanted to to go away as fast as I can. As Israeli society modernized, [music] small underground social circles and meeting places began to emerge, especially in Tel Aviv.
Though still marginalized, these communities [music] laid the groundwork for future activism.
So, in other words, if you didn't feel like you know you were any different body, you would have still remained in Kazakhstan.
Yes and no. It's one of one of the reasons that I came here is is to transition to be myself, but other reason is just there are much more opportunities over here in terms of jobs and education.
Um So, yeah. So, it had like um All right. Now to the tougher question.
Here in Israel, I I understand from what you say you feel comfortable here in Israel, right? To to a degree, yeah. Okay.
>> [laughter] >> Because that's where I'm going to. Here in Israel, I have noticed that a lot of transgenders, they like choose to remain hidden. So, why do you think transgenders in Israel are hiding?
A major milestone came with the founding of the Aguda, one of Israel's first [music] LGBTQ advocacy organizations.
It worked to provide support, [music] create community, and push for equal rights.
As That's why despite that in Israel, they are allowed.
So, why do you think most of them are still hiding? They're not bold. If they aren't bold to come out and let the world know, "Look, I have transitioned.
This is who I am, not who you guys think I was. Here I am." So, why can they do that here in Israel?
We can, but the thing is we still live in a society that is not so much accepting of us. Mhm. So, I've encountered violence towards myself, both physical and uh any kind of violence, like we've all been through that. Yeah, here in Israel? Yeah, of course. Of course.
That's part of part of being a transgender person. But Yeah, as much as the country is allowing it, still the society is still in a box. Still Yeah. Not all of the society because I have great friends who are my family, in my opinion. But some people that I've met that are not not fully accepting, and that's due to ignorance or just not being able to open their minds to something different than than they are.
One of the most important [music] turning points came in 1988, when Israel repealed laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relations.
This marked [music] a legal shift toward greater recognition and equality.
The 1990s [music] saw rapid progress. Israeli courts and lawmakers advanced protections in employment, benefits, and recognition of same-sex partners in certain areas.
LGBTQ Israelis became more visible in media, arts, and public [music] life.
You know, um I have seen documentaries about um transgenders. There's um in Thailand. Have you ever been to Thailand? I know I've never No, you haven't. Because Thailand is the transgender like in capital of the world.
>> Yeah. All right. So, um these documentaries I watched about um transgenders, they've talked about uh how first of all, a lot of them in Thailand they're being accepted. That's why most transgenders move to um Thailand. But, a lot of them also talk about the health implication of, you know, this transitioning, the the surgeries you do.
Don't you think at a certain age in your life, you said you're 25 now, right?
Don't you think at a certain age you're going to regret this?
>> No.
Never. If I could have started my transitioning and hormones uh even be- before >> Mhm. like I would if I could press a button and go back and start transitioning earlier than I were born. Yeah, I would. I would definitely. It's just um honestly, my transitioning in my life just changed for the better.
I'm not depressed as I used to be. I'm just feeling feel like myself at this point. All right. Okay. So, no. I I don't think And of course, like uh as any uh medical inter- intervenience, uh it has its uh consequences.
So, uh just like any surgery >> Mhm. each surgery has its risks.
>> Mhm.
But, I I believe that uh the risks I are worth it for me specifically.
>> Okay. All right. Now, coming to um the relationship aspect, why is it that 99% of um transgenders, like the male to female, how do you call it? I am MTF MTF >> Oh.
For me, I was thinking that um they should like when it comes to relationship to date the female gender.
But why is it that most go for the male?
>> 99%. It's not 99%. No, no, no.
I I've met a tons of transgender women who are lesbian, who only date girls.
Oh, so that is lesbian. If a transgender dates a girl, she's a lesbian. Yeah, yeah, because she's a woman. Ah, okay.
She's a woman and it doesn't matter how how how how she was born. For example, I am mostly straight.
I like I go out with men.
But it doesn't make me like when people call me gay, it's not right because people when when a gay person sees me, he doesn't want me because he he sees me as a woman. So he doesn't want that. So I'm just a yeah, mostly straight woman. But that's the thing. A lot of people confuse sexuality and sexual sexual orientation and gender identity. Basically, gender is how you perceive yourself or how you want others to perceive you. So I see myself as a woman and I want others to see me as one.
But uh sexual sexual orientation is whom you are attracted to. It doesn't It goes outwards, you know what I mean?
So it's like yeah, if you're attracted to man and you're a man, you're gay. If you're yeah. If I'm attracted to a transgender, does that make me gay?
Tel Aviv became internationally [music] known as the center of LGBTQ culture in the Middle East.
Tel Aviv Pride [music] grew into one of the world's major pride celebrations, attracting visitors [music] from many countries. Yeah, if I'm attracted to a transgender, does that make me gay? No, I don't think so. There are some people that think so because like but she was born a man but like I don't think so. I don't think so.
Well, I always don't think so because yes, for me I'm attracted to the female gender. I'm attracted to what makes a person feminine. You understand? So, yes, this debate has always been going on that if a man is attracted to a transgender, that means that man is gay just because the transgender has the male organ. Yeah, yeah, but uh a lot of us go through with surgery, so we don't even have the organs anymore.
So, like >> [laughter] >> So, there's I don't know. I don't know how the logic is some somewhat broken in this regard.
At least good to know because for me I know that um I wouldn't be attracted to a man. Like see somebody who is muscular. Like It doesn't You don't have to even be muscular or or fit or go to the gym, but once I see that even even if a girl looks masculine, I'm not attracted to to that girl. So, I think um, you know, sexuality is all about attraction because you can be as a man you can be attracted to a guy and you still you do not sleep with a guy. My brother, that makes you gay, bro.
All right, I went to that.
>> [laughter] >> Okay. Now, what surprises me, Dennis, is your boldness because when I when I told you that I'd like to have an interview with you, you just accepted on the spot.
>> Sure. No, the reason I'm telling you this is because you're not the first transgender I've like asked, "Would you like to make a video with me?"
Just like I said, most of them are like shy or a lot of them don't want to be seen on camera. So, you are different.
What makes you different? Like you come out, you don't care if the world is going to see you because I'm not going to blur your beautiful face. You don't care about that. So, what is that thing you that makes you different from others?
LGBTQ [music] people increasingly served openly in the military, entered politics, and gained influence in entertainment [music] and journalism.
Community centers and support networks expanded across Israel, including in [music] Jerusalem and other cities.
Despite [music] progress, debates over marriage, adoption, surrogacy, [music] and religious acceptance have continued.
Well, I there is um there's a thing in like being trans that is called that is called being stealth.
Mhm. Which is which means like uh passing as a straight as a as a cisgender woman, like a biological female, passing and never telling anyone Mhm. as a as a that you're a trans woman. I've been through that phase.
And it felt like coming back into the closet because like all of a sudden you you you are hiding yourself.
>> Mhm. Mhm. So, it feels just like a starting point. Like I didn't transition to just shut up and be quiet. No, I I transitioned in order to live my life and just enjoy and experience every every aspect of life.
>> Yeah, that makes sense because, you know, when I see uh trans people who are hiding, the first thing that goes in my mind is then why did you transition?
>> Yeah.
You say you you did not like the way you felt as a boy and you decided to transition to a girl. So, after transitioning, why hide? What's the point? So, if you came out of the closet, then stay out of the closet.
If it's safe for you. If it's safe for you because uh in in this current society, some people really don't feel safe. So, I understand by that regard mhm not being outspoken and out fully because it's in terms of safety.
Nigerian trans TikTok star Abuja Area Mama found dead.
The battered body of Abuja Area Mama, a popular 33-year-old transgender TikTok influencer, was discovered along a highway in Abuja, Nigeria.
Known for her candid posts about life as a transgender woman and sex worker in Nigeria, Mama was reportedly on her way to visit her boyfriend when she was murdered. Josephine Adeh, a police spokesperson, confirmed the discovery of Mama's body and started stated that Abuja Chief of Police, Bennett Igwe, has ordered a {quote} thorough and discreet investigation.
In her last TikTok post, Mama wrote, {quote} getting ready to go and see my boyfriend.
It was just hours before her body was found.
LGBTQ rights in Nigeria have been increasingly under attack with many states adopting forms of Sharia law that criminalize same-sex relations and gender expression that does not conform to traditional norms. Israel does not perform same-sex civil marriage [music] domestically, though some foreign marriages are recognized for administrative purposes.
Today, the LGBTQ [music] community in Israel is diverse, including Jewish, Arab, Druze, secular, and religious [music] members.
Its history reflects courage, activism, >> [music] >> and the continuing pursuit of dignity and equality.
It is a history [music] not only of laws changing, but of people choosing to live openly and helping society [music] grow more inclusive.
>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> But uh I for example, I all of my friends are highly accepting of me and I love them. So uh Now, talking about safety, I want to use the opportunity to tell the viewers something. You guys have watched Dennis for more than 10 minutes right now, and the thing I don't understand when she talks about safety uh in the transgender community or people hitting on them, people not accepting them.
Ever since Dennis has sat here with me or I with her, I don't see any threat she poses to me.
So, if she doesn't pose any threat to me, why should I feel threatened?
Why should I despise her for who and what she has decided to be as long as she isn't hurting me and isn't hurting anyone. That's my point about all this.
You know, this is one of the reason I decided to make this video so that you because there are a lot of people whose mind are still closed.
And coming to religion, yes, I know. I know my dear Christians, I know what's going in your mind.
A lot of Christians, especially Christian fanatics, are so against Yeah. LGBTQ.
>> Of course. And we attribute it to Sodom and Gomorrah. Do you know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah?
>> Of course. My hometown.
>> [laughter] >> So, we we once we, you know, hear about the LGBT P LGBT LGBT L Okay. All right.
You understand what I'm saying?
>> to know. Good to know. Good to All right. Thank you. So, once we hear about these alphabets, these letters, the first thing that goes on in our mind as Christians is Sodom and Gomorrah. But, what I tell Christians is that the thing is that in our society today, straight people, Yeah. heterosexuals, are even more of sinners than people in the LGBT Hey. LGBT LGBT LGBTQ community.
The thing [laughter] we're most good at is hypocrisy. Yeah. There are other sins we commit, but once we see somebody who is in this community, we immediately judge them. So, Dennis, in your own word, what can you tell such people? Of course, with love.
>> [laughter] >> As the story of the LGBTQ community in [music] Israel continues to unfold, it remains a reflection of [music] human identity, social change, and the search for [music] belonging.
Across generations, people have worked to create spaces where [music] they can live openly, build community, and be recognized with dignity. So, Dennis, in your own word, what can you tell such people? Of course, with love.
Take care of yourself.
Take care of yourselves, honestly.
That's all. That's all. Just remember that we're all trying to live this life.
>> We're all doing our best.
Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don't. It's okay. It's just Let's Let's live and love. And ever since you transitioned, um have you ever had any encounter with somebody who's trying to be negative towards you?
>> Yeah, of course.
Of course.
>> Like not not online, I mean physical.
>> Yeah, of course.
Of course.
Like even a few months ago, I would I rode the bus uh back home from work and uh some people were just screaming names at me and throwing stuff at me and no one stopped, no one intervened. Wow. And it's kind of unfortunately at this point you get used to it sometimes.
>> No, nobody should get used to something like that.
>> but but to get used to it is is just a way of dealing with it. It's It's like I'm not going to let it ruin my day.
Mhm. Um you guys should understand that um the world is changing, we've all evolved. Um as much as I have gone to um um the parade, the LGBTQ parade, I go every year except for the last two times that they uh happened. When I go there, um people in that community they think I am all like they think I'm gay. I tell them, "No, I'm not." And most of them ask me, "Why are you here?"
Like in a nice way, not Yeah, of course.
Of course. So, I tell them, "Well, I I thought you guys say today is a love parade, it's a love day."
>> Exactly. So, it doesn't matter my orientation, it doesn't matter my sexuality as long as it stands for love.
I'm always going to be there. In fact, if Satan, Lucifer is celebrating love.
Exactly.
>> [laughter] >> I will always be there. From the streets of Tel Aviv to the neighborhoods of Jerusalem and beyond, the journey has included [music] moments of celebration, challenge, progress, and debate.
It is a story shaped by many voices, backgrounds, and experiences.
Whatever perspectives [music] exist, the history of LGBTQ life in Israel remains [music] an important part of the nation's broader social story.
It highlights how societies evolve, how conversations grow, and how individuals continue [music] seeking acceptance and understanding.
But, one thing I can say is that the the reason people attack you and other transgenders is because they do not love themselves.
Yeah, for sure. Because I think if a man or a woman loves his or herself, then you will not hate some other person.
>> Exactly. The most important thing we should all see in each other is the heart. As long as, you know, he he he he or she is the same blood, the same two eyes, two hands, so why should you hate on this person as long as the person did not come to attack you?
Exactly. So, talking about, you know, the LGBTQ community here in Israel, those who, you know, decide to still hide.
I'm not telling you to tell them stop hiding because, like you said, it's all about safety. Uh but, um I would like you to say a few things today.
Honestly, I can I can say in regards regarding myself, >> Mhm.
I the only thing I would love to change about my transitioning is just I wish I could have enjoyed it more.
Mhm. Because when start transitioning, it's basically you choose yourself. Wait, wait, wait.
Can you say you you wish you could have done what? I could have just been enjoying the the whole process more.
Because the whole process is it's it's not supposed to be tragic.
It's supposed to be happy. You're finally choosing yourself. You're choosing to live in the in the body you want to live in.
So just enjoy it.
And so yeah, I just wish I just hope everyone is happy, honestly.
That's all. That's the most important thing. Dennis, thank you very much. And dear viewers, I know this topic is conflicting to a lot of people.
One thing I know about in life is that you cannot change what you cannot control. And you cannot control what you cannot change.
If you're happy the way you are, if you're happy with yourself, that's what really matters. And if you're happy with yourself, how should you judge somebody who feels they're happy with the way they look or they decide to be. We have no right. Yes, as Christians, we know what the Bible says. We understand that.
Bible says a lot of words, by the way. A lot.
Please, can you tell us one?
>> [laughter] >> And then you in your in your before you transition, when you were in Kazakhstan, I believe you might have, you know, followed your parents to church. Did you? Or did you guys go to church at all?
Um my parents are are strong believers. Okay, Christians.
Yeah. I'm not supposed to say that. But >> [laughter] >> but yeah, I'm I was born in a Christian family. And uh remember even as a child when I was 10, I prayed to Jesus every single night so he doesn't turn me into a gay person.
Really?
>> Which succeeded. I'm a straight woman now. But Okay. Wow.
So you prayed to Jesus so he wouldn't turn you into straight person. Yeah.
Wow, you were smart. Okay, what if you prayed to Jesus so he wouldn't turn you into transgender?
Because I didn't know what transgender was back then. It's uh it's not something that people talk about.
>> Yeah, yeah, because even while you were praying, for you you were praying as a girl, not as a boy.
Yeah, I knew that they told me that I should act as a boy. Mhm. So I I just did everything. I prayed so that God made me masculine and stuff like that.
It never worked. You prayed to God to make you like a boy, talk like a boy.
>> Yeah, yeah, because because that's what my parents told me I should be. Mhm.
And apart from your eldest sister, do you have any other sibling?
Yeah, my my older sister.
That's you you are two. Yeah.
>> Yeah, two girls. Yeah. And your dad and your mom, of course I believe they are straight. Yeah. You know, some people say that sometimes it has to do with genes, heredity. Is that the case because if your both parents were straight or are straight, then and your sister is straight, so you were like how did it turn around with >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, I I I'm not at a at a place to talk about science of that because I I have I don't know anything about that. But um I surely know that when I was born, I from the very beginning, I felt like a girl. That's all I know. All right. All right. Yeah, because I don't know, that's what in Thailand they say it's a kind of what when somebody is born like you're a a man and you feel like you're a girl, it's because in your past life there's something you must have done.
In your past life that wasn't good. So, the gods punished you by reincarnating you into a different sex. That's what they believe there in Thailand.
>> just saying what what have I done in the past life?
>> [laughter] >> That's That's why I asked if you've ever been to Thailand because if you were in Thailand, you would have known this for sure. May I ask? That's what they believe in Thailand. And that's why in Thailand it's accepted. The government accepts it. In fact, transgenders are in places of uh I saw a transgender police, teaching.
So, they're they're accepted there. So, I thought you were there. So, that's what they believe. So, Dennis, thank you very much. And tell them viewers, please stop the hate.
Do not hate what you cannot understand.
Because like she said, she doesn't even understand how she turned out to be a girl in a boy's body because her her parents are straight and her sister, she's the only one. That was why I asked if you have a different sibling. Maybe You know, one of your siblings are I'm I'm I'm the I'm the weird one of my family, [laughter] to be honest. The black sheep.
>> Yeah, yeah, the black sheep. Sure.
All right, Dennis. Thank you very much.
And this is This is very wonderful of you for being bold. Yeah. For being bold to share your story, to let people understand um the other side of trans people that they're very sweet, they're very caring, they're loving, as you can see. And um I believe those of you who judge you you should see her on the street, you would never think that this was once a guy.
You see, we all >> pretty one, by the way. A very pretty [laughter] guy. Yeah, I was cute.
>> [gasps] >> So, never judge a book by the cover. Get to know people. It doesn't matter their sexual orientation. It doesn't matter, you know, uh what community they are as long as they're not doing bad, they're not hurting, they're not into crime. That's the most we should just learn to love.
Live and let live, basically. That's that's the creed. Thank you very much, Dennis.
>> Thank you. And as time moves forward, that story, like all human stories, will continue [music] to be written day by day.
And it is stories like that of Dennis that helps us understand that here in Israel [music] everyone has a voice, and humanity matters above all. It is your boy, the crackhead.
Get to see you, hopefully, in the next episode. Bye for now.
>> [music] [music] [music]
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