Israel Undressed: Gay Men in the Promised Land

Gay porn mogul Michael Lucas unveils pinkwashing documentary

Earlier this month Lucas, who is known for anti-Muslim views, premiered Israel Undressed: Gay Men in the Promised Land, a documentary about Israel as the Middle East's only tolerant, gay-friendly society.



Born in Moscow in 1972, Lucas studied law and then began working as a model and prostitute. Today he is is renowned as a "porn king," because he produces and often stars in big-budgeted adult films made by his company Lucas Entertainment. His magnum opus, Michael Lucas's La Dolce Vita, cost $250,000, making it the highest-priced adult film in history, according to Lucas.

As a filmmaker Lucas branded himself a pro-Israel ambassador during the war with Lebanon when he organized a USO style live-sex show in Tel Aviv with free admission for soldiers. Then in 2009 he made Men of Israel, an adult film with scenes shot in Nakba ruins, or homes once belonging to Palestinians. In 2011 Lucas went on the offensive by spearheading a campaign to cancel an Israeli Apartheid Week event planned at the New York City LGBT Center. Lucas decried the organizers of the "Party to End Apartheid" as a "hate group," comparing them to Fred Phelps, leader of the Westboro Baptist Church who is known for picketing funerals of U.S. soldiers with colorful sings that read: God Hates Fags. Leveraging his celebrity Lucas also avowed if the center did not cancel the event he would rally donors to stop contributions. The community center cowered, placing a moratorium on all Israel related events. Without notice the ban was lifted last week.