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Tell Israel: Don't Deport Slain Gay Activist's Partner
  1. Signatures
    728 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Spokesperson, Israeli Interior Ministry (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Spokesperson, Israeli Interior Ministry (Sabin Hadad)
      • Israeli Interior Ministry (Spokespersons Office)
      • Ministry of Interior (Eli Yishai)
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Welcome to Israel, where if your same-sex spouse is killed in one of the most brutal anti-gay hate crimes in recent memory, you can be kicked out of the country.

That's the future facing 27-year-old Thomas Schmidt, who came to Israel more than six years ago from Germany and built up a professional and personal life in the country. Indeed, after only a year in the country, Schmidt met an Israeli man, Nir Katz, and the two became life partners. In 2008, Schmidt even began the process of registering officially as the partner of an Israeli citizen.

But then tragedy struck. In August 2009, a crazed gunman burst into an LGBT center in Tel Aviv, opening fire on a basement where a group of LGBT teenagers were holding a support group meeting. Nir Katz was a counselor at the LGBT center, and was fatally shot along with one other person. Fifteen other people were seriously wounded in the attack, one of the most anti-gay hate crimes in Israel's history.

The terrible event took away Thomas Schmidt's life partner. Now, nearly 18 months after the tragedy, the government of Israel is trying to kick Schmidt out of the country, saying that he has no legal reason to be in Israel, despite the many years he's lived there and the life he and Katz built for themselves. The Interior Ministry gave Schmidt until the end of February to leave.

It's time to stand up to Israel's Interior Ministry, and let them know that deporting Schmidt sends not only a homophobic message, but a cruel and heartless message as well. Here is a man who had to endure one of life's greatest tragedies -- having the love of your life brutally killed -- only to see his adopted country try to punish him months down the road. Stand up and tell Israel's Interior Ministry to abandon plans to deport Schmidt, and urge them to allow Schmidt to stay in the country where his friends, coworkers, and family members make up the supportive community in his life.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Don't deport Thomas Schmidt from Israel

Dear Interior Ministry,

The state of Israel has told Thomas Schmidt that he has until the end of February to leave the country. This is tragic, and I urge Israel's Interior Ministry to change course on Thomas Schmidt's case and allow him to stay in the country.

Thomas Schmidt came to Israel more than six years ago from Germany and built up a professional and personal life in the country. Indeed, after only a year in the country, Schmidt met an Israeli man, Nir Katz, and the two became life partners. In 2008, Schmidt even began the process of registering officially as the partner of an Israeli citizen.

But then, as you know, tragedy struck. In August 2009, a crazed gunman burst into an LGBT center in Tel Aviv, opening fire on a basement where a group of LGBT teenagers were holding a support group meeting. Nir Katz was a counselor at the LGBT center, and was fatally shot along with one other person. Fifteen other people were seriously wounded in the attack, one of the most anti-gay hate crimes in Israel's history.

Now Schmidt, who had to endure one of life's greatest tragedies -- seeing the love of your life murdered -- is being told by your department that he has to leave the country. This is cruel, heartless, and offensive, and unfortunately sends the message that Israel is not a welcome place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the globe.

Indeed, even an Israeli lawmaker, Nitzan Horowitz, has said that allowing Schmidt to stay in the country would cause no harm at all to Israel. "There would be no damage to the state of Israel if such a positive person as Thomas Schmidt, in light of the difficult and extraordinary circumstances, would stay with us here," Horowitz said.

I agree, and urge you to reconsider your decision to deport Schmidt from Israel. Don't punish Schmidt more, who has already had to endure such great tragedy, by removing him from a place that has been his home and his life for over six years.

Thanks for your time.

[Your name]

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