LGBTQ people have always been a part of the Israeli military, and Israel was the first country ever to welcome this community into its army, more than thirty years ago. The recent events of October 7th resulted in many of us, queer Israelis, leaving our homes and going back into service, as 350,000 reservists were called up. Queer people had a front-line role in this war from its first day. That morning Sagi Golan, an officer in the anti-terrorism unit, ran into battle before even being called in. He repeatedly entered the kibbutz and rescued more and more civilians, until he was shot and killed. Tragically, it was only a few days before his planned wedding with his boyfriend, Omer Ohana. When the informing officer arrived with the bitter news of Sagi’s death, he overtly ignored Omer, and commented that he didn’t recognize their relationship.
We are there for our country in its darkest hour. Is it there for us?
RAINBOW WARRIORS is a film that follows Omer’s fight for equal rights in the name of the late Sagi Golan, and stories of 4 other queer people fighting in the Israel-Hamas war.
Our drive
Producer and co-director Zvi Landsman:
I was called to reserve duty on October 7th. I am a lieutenant company commander, in charge of sixty soldiers, doing my best to make sure they are fed, have a place to sleep and are trained to best handle the dangers we are facing. I’m also the only out gay man in my company. I am proud to be a queer soldier. I deliberately express that in my company, to get rid of the vagueness that I’d been hiding behind for many years in the past when I was doing reserve service in the closet. I feel the connection I have with my peers is beautiful, and I seek to inspire others to feel at ease and to be themselves in this challenging environment. I decided I’m going to make a film about it. But being in service, I’m in no position to direct such a film by myself. I turned to Moran Nakar, a director I greatly appreciate. Only then did I learn that she has had a totally different experience.
Director Moran Nakar:
My military service was a constant battle, not against another army, but against my own. As a woman and as a closeted lesbian, the army was not at all accommodating. My commander sensed that I was queer and mistreated me for it. She would comment on my appearance and my manners, and she humiliated me in front of my peers. After feeling mistreated for a whole year, I finally had the nerve to fight back – and I won. My commander was expelled from the service. However, the wounds of that experience are still with me. My experience in the IDF for me bears memories of hurt and shame, instead of the pride that I could have had, serving my country and my beloved people. For many years I was one of those who turned away from the military, not wanting anything to do with it. But now, after the atrocities of October 7th, I realize that I can’t. I need the IDF. I want it to be there for me in this challenging time. And so, I feel obligated to fight for it right now, to help make it a better place.
Together we realized that before us is a path of questions rather than answers. We will represent stories of success to give inspiration and motivation for successful integration into the military, alongside stories of difficulty and pain. We want to empower people like us on their journey to be accepted and appreciated as an equal part of society, and most relevant now, of the military. We hope this film will provide resources to our viewers, both as inspiration from stories of success, and as clarity about what we must fight to change .
We will follow stories of a variety of queer people in the military during this war, and show their unique contribution and their challenges.
Just before the war a minister of our government said queers are more dangerous than Hamas and Hezbollah. Now, when we fight shoulder to shoulder with our sisters and brothers, now is the time to call for our equal rights.
What we need
To make this film a reality we need to raise a total sum of $250,000.
To start us off, we need $30,000 in development funds, which will be used to shoot the footage that needs to be collected while the war is still going on, and to edit a video proposal and preview trailer .
All donations are tax deductible and go through the New Fund for Cinema and Television (NFCT), via their fiscal sponsors – “P.E.F. Israel Endowment Funds”.
Each donor will receive receipt of their donation .
Please leave a comment that your donation is for “Rainbow Warriors” and email us the details of your donation so we can track it and express our appreciation to you.
For more information regarding tax-deductibility options and other ways to donate click here.