Israeli Arab transgender beauty queen opens up about her story

[Mosby]

-snip-

Abu Hana spoke about her experience as a transgender woman in Israel. After winning the beauty pageant, she was runner-up at the Miss Trans Star International Pageant and a contestant on Israel’s “Big Brother.”

As a boy growing up in Nazareth, Abu Hana grappled with an intense internal conflict between “body and soul,” she said. When she showed an interest in women’s clothes and makeup, her father lashed out at her.

“Transforming from the most beloved child to the one everyone hated … I was lost and started thinking of killing myself,” she said.

Abu Hana moved to Tel Aviv, where the LGBT community is known to be strong and accepting. One evening while hanging out with new friends, a transgender woman was talking about her transition.

“I didn’t get what she was talking about,” Abu Hana recalled.

Another male friend said, “She’s transgender, just like you.”

Abu Hana was taken aback and insisted she was not. The male friend then took her face in his hands and said, “You are going to be a woman and a beautiful one.”

http://www.jta.org/2017/06/15/news-opinion/united-states/israeli-arab-transgender-beauty-queen-opens-up-about-her-story

[MosheFeingold]

1. So much for the intolerant Israel

As this lady noted, she -- an Arab and presumably Muslim -- is not only free and safe in Israel, but would almost have certainly been killed in the Arab occupied area.

Belies the usual line of Israel being intolerant evil empire so often posted here.

I hope she has a nice life.

Thank you for posting.

[Tanuki]

2. Why "presume" her religion, when the second paragraph of the

article identifies her as a Christian?
"About 100 people attended the event, which featured an address by Talleen Abu Hana, an Arab Christian from Nazareth who won the first Miss Trans Israel beauty pageant in 2016."

[Mosby]

3. Maybe he didn't notice

MosheFeingold is 92 years old I think.

[MosheFeingold]

4. Because I didn't notice

But her Christian religion actually is even more interesting.

Historically, the Arab Christians were much more antisemitic and violent than Arab Muslims, due to a localized belief in "replacement theology." For example (if you are old enough), remember Sirhan Sirhan, the Jordanian Christian from Jerusalem? He killed Bobby Kennedy due to Bobby's support of Israel.

Recently, however, local Christian/Jewish relations have changed for the better, albeit for a bad reason.

The radical Muslims that have taken over the Arab-controlled portions of Samaria and Judea have systematically cleansed Christians from the territories they control, even in traditionally Christian areas like Bethlehem.

As a result, many Christians have fled to Israel, like this young lady.