See the Facebook Photo That Has People Talking

[William769]

Israel's military posted a photo to its official Facebook account that may be a first for any fighting force.

"It's Pride Month," the caption reads, from the Israel Defense Forces. "Did you know that the IDF treats all of its soldiers equally?"

The photo from Monday shows two male soldiers walking together, holding hands. And it already has more than 8,000 likes, 6,000 shares and more than 1,000 comments because of the inevitable controversy.

The IDF has allowed gays and lesbians to serve openly since 1993, when it passed an anti-discrimination policy. That's the same year that "don't ask, don't tell" was signed into law in the United States.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/military/2012/06/12/israels-military-proudly-posts-photo-two-soldiers-holding-hands

[mitchtv]

1. how cute, but I wouldn't want to cross

either one of these soldiers du rec

[closeupready]

2. So sweet.

K&R

[msongs]

3. it's ok for men to hold hands in many cultures, it is NOT a gay thing. In US culture men are

not supposed to hold hands socially or on the streets. The exception is brief hand holding for group activities usually leading to violence (huddles, war, etc)

[Raster]

4. Yes, but this picture of men holding hands IS VERY MUCH A GAY THING!

This picture was posted by the Israeli Defense Forces in honor of PRIDE Month.

[closeupready]

5. Further to this point, sources are saying these two are not a couple, and

that only ONE of them is gay:

>>But the Times of Israel news website claimed the photograph was misleading, saying: "The two soldiers in the photo are not a couple, only one of the two is gay, and both the soldiers serve in the IDF spokesperson's office."

A spokesman for the IDF refused to answer a direct question on whether the photograph had been staged, saying it was irrelevant to the military's attitudes to homosexuality.<<

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/13/israeli-military-gay-pride-photo

[closeupready]

6. Also: not just US culture, but all of the Anglo-Saxon world frowns on

homo-social displays of affection, and actively encourages and approves of heterosexual displays of affection.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

7. Here's the IDF Facebook page

if anyone wants to like that photo.

http://m.facebook.com/idfonline?id=125249070831305&_rdr

[William769]

8. Thanks!

[UnrepentantLiberal]

9. No problem.

[jberryhill]

12. Please tell us more

[drynberg]

13. What, speak English, troops! Not literate nor "cute".

[HelenWheels]

14. Bush does it

Remember when he walked with the Saudi sheik holding his hand and they also kissed. And not a word from our "liberal" press.