(Jerusalem) Israel’s newly elected Knesset members were sworn in on Tuesday – including Nitzan Horowitz, only the second openly-gay lawmaker to enter Israel’s parliament.

A former television journalist, Horowitz is a member of the left-of-center Meretz Party.

Last week he announced plans to bring in legislation that would allow any two couples to marry or have a civil union.

Currently only a rabbi can perform a marriage in Israel. A bill already before the Knesset would allow civil marriage, but only for opposite-sex couples.

Horovitz said his measure would allow both opposite-sex and same-sex couples to have a civil marriage.

It’s doubtful Horovitz bill will get far in the Knesset.  This month’s election saw large gains by conservatives, including the small-but-powerful religious parties.

Nevertheless, Horovitz said he is hopeful of a dialogue in the parliament.

Gays and lesbians in Israel have been steadily gaining civil rights since the government overturned the law against sodomy in 1988.

There have been no restrictions on gays serving in the military since 1993. In 2000, the age of consent for gays was lowered to 16, to match the legal age for consensual sex for heterosexuals.

Gay couples are given most federal rights in Israel, although gay marriage has been rejected by the courts.

While Tel Aviv is liberal and gays enjoy a vibrant community, in the conservative Jerusalem, the LGBT community is frequently under attack.

Authorities and ultra-Orthodox religious leaders have constantly attempted to bar gay pride from Jerusalem.

Last year’s gay pride parade went ahead despite attempts by the city to get an injunction blocking it

In 2007, moments before the gay pride march was to begin in Jerusalem, police arrested a man carrying a homemade bomb.

The 2006 pride march was cancelled following a week of rioting in Jerusalem by the ultra-Orthodox haredi sect.

In 2005 the parade also was marred by violence. More than a than a dozen protestors were arrested and three people were stabbed.