Israeli consulate highlights gay culture

SAN FRANCISCO -- Israel's consulate in San Francisco is co-sponsoring a month of events highlighting gay and lesbian culture.

This is the first time a foreign country has sponsored an LGBT -- lesbian, gay, bisexual, trangender -- event in the United States. a consulate spokesman told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Through the end of April, Israeli films, concerts, dance performances, panel discussions and author appearances will focus on gay culture within Israel and the American Jewish community. Highlights include a screening of "Yossi and Jagger," a 2002 Israeli film about the romance between two male IDF soldiers, and readings by Israeli novelist Yossi Avni-Levy, whose book, "Auntie Farhuma Wasn’t a Whore After All," deals with a gay couple. Other participating institutions include the San Francisco JCC, local Jewish federations, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, and the Jewish Community Relations Council.