In celebration of Israel’s 68th Independence Day, filmmaker, entrepreneur and columnist Michael Lucas has released his 2013 documentary, Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land, for free viewing online.
Whereas most news coverage of Israel focuses on conflict, terrorism and war, Undressing Israel shows how Israeli gays, including Arab Israelis, live in peace and security that’s unknown elsewhere in the region.
Directed by Lucas, the film made its debut at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood, and was included in several other major film festivals. Lucas has made the film available in response to what he calls “the global demonization of Israel and the widespread disinformation campaign about the only country in the Middle East where gay people enjoy equality and safety,” and believes that Israel’s “enlightened, progressive attitudes about the LGBT community” can serve as “a model for the world.”
Although Tel Aviv was named “the world’s best gay travel destination” by GayCities.com and American Airlines in 2011, Lucas is concerned that people who’ve never been to Israel think of it as a religious country that’s constantly in turmoil.
The reality, as Undressing Israel makes clear, is quite different, as we see when the filmmaker attends a same-sex wedding, visits vibrant nightclubs and meets gay couples and their children.
The film also features funny and moving conversations with a variety of LGBT Israelis, including one of the country’s hottest properties, former combat soldier turned international party promoter, Eliad Cohen. Watch Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land, for free, online at www.MichaelLucas.com.