Mizrahi, Gay and Proud the Team Behind Israel's Pink Panthers’ Revolution
It’s hard to exaggerate the success of Arisa, whose Middle Eastern-themed gay parties began five and a half years ago in Tel Aviv. You’ll find about 1,500 people at these riotous monthly events – a mix mostly of transgender people, gays and lesbians, but also heterosexuals. They’re mainly right-wing Mizrahim (Jews of Middle Eastern descent), but there are also left-wingers and Palestinians, and partygoers hailing from the outlying areas as well as Tel Avivians. Revelers dance with contagious joy in smoke-filled clubs, to the sound of roaring Mizrahi music, singing along to every song.
But the success of Arisa can’t measured only by demand for its parties. Its activities crossed the boundaries of the nightlife and gay experience long ago and turned it into a genuine phenomenon. Since it was launched in July 2010 by Omer Tobi, Uriel Yekutiel and Yotam Pappo, numerous mainstream Israeli artists have performed there – from Mizrahi stars Zehava Ben, Sarit Hadad and Lior Narkis to Haredi singer Ben Snof.
Some singers also collaborated on songs with Arisa, among them Margalit Tzanani (“It Ain’t Europe Here”), Dana International (“Saida Sultana”) and Omer Adam (“Tel Aviv”). The latter, which Tobi and Pappo worked on with songwriter Doron Medalie, became the official anthem of Tel Aviv’s Gay Pride Parade in 2013 and was one of the top hits of that year. In addition, the group was invited to appear overseas, including in Brazil, Amsterdam, Shanghai and Tokyo. Its party videos went viral, too.
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