Gay Pride Parade cancelled for J'lem; World Pride Events still on
Though some headlines may lead one to think that the whole program is off, only the parade — that being the most major public event of World Pride has been cancelled:
The Open House Organization announced Friday that the World Pride parade, which was scheduled to take place on August 10 in Jerusalem, has been called off due to the war in Lebanon.
However, the other gay pride events will take place as scheduled, the group said in a statement.
“This is not the time for celebrations,” Open House said. “The parade, which requires extensive security, will not take place due to the situation.”
JPost adds:
The last international gay parade, which took place in Rome in 2000 despite the wrath of the Vatican, attracted about half a million participants, while local organizers expect tens of thousands of revelers for the Jerusalem event this summer.
The curtailed six-day event will include workshops and a gay film festival.
Other than the fact that the event was planned to take place in Jerusalem, which thank G-d did not happen, what exactly is the relevance of his topic to jews, Judaism or Israel.
On the other hand, it’s your blog. But I am curious.
I may be wrong, but perhaps there may be one or two gay Israelis in the country? And a lot of gay tourists?
and there are gay Jews too (oh no, not that!). Interestingly (and sadly), the attack against the parade brought fundamentalists of all religions together. Who says there can’t be unity between religions?
Chaim – Funny you should mention that. I recall that last year the NYT ran a front page story about the resistance to the parade. At first, all I saw was the top half of the newspaper, which had a photograph of a rabbi, a priest, and an imam standing together shaking hands. The headline was somewhat deceptive, leading me believe that peace had finally come to the region. Of course, I was later to find that no, peace had not come to the middle east, however there was something that all three spiritual leaders could agree on – hatred for the queers.
Formermuslim – They’ll be back to have the parade, you can count on that. No way did they go to all that trouble to get the right to march only to not march. They’ll just wait until thing calm down (hopefully).
However, I’m sure that Ben-David will find this news most welcome, given the ridiculously long threads of ignorant rubbish he produced over at jewlicious when this year’s event was first announced.
it sounds like the monkeys paw to me.
“Formermuslim – They’ll be back to have the parade, you can count on that. No way did they go to all that trouble to get the right to march only to not march. ”
Holding this parade in Jerusalem will only increase violence in the middle-east. There is no better propaganda tool for the muslims.
Really, formermuslim? Seems like it brings together fundamentalists from many faiths, united in their homophobia. Sory of brings a teaer to your eye, doesn’t it?
The only parade gay, straight, green, or purple should maintain is the parade to sign up with the IDF and defend Isreal in this moment of need.
“Really, formermuslim? Seems like it brings together fundamentalists from many faiths, united in their homophobia. Sory of brings a teaer to your eye, doesn’t it? ”
It was your “homophobic” ancestor (Moses anyone) who was willing to lay down his life before he would violate a law of the Torah. Including the prohibition against homosexual conduct.
But maybe you’re right and the Torah is an ancient primitive document with no relevance for the modern Jew.
Except of course for the part that says G-d gave Israel to the Jews.
Matt Borus, meet Pick and Choose. I believe you already met.
“Holding this parade in Jerusalem will only increase violence in the middle-east. There is no better propaganda tool for the muslims. ”
Yes, nothing like a display of tolerance and democratic tenets to justify violence. Maybe this explains the recent crime wave here in DC- all of these flags and monuments- it’s a f-cking tinderbox.
Torah isn’t the basis for Jews in Israel, dude. Jews were in Israel before Torah was written.
“Torah isn’t the basis for Jews in Israel, dude. Jews were in Israel before Torah was written. ”
That’s new. So new in fact that I have no comeback.
The Torah- the 5 books of Moses, were written, at the earliest, at the end of Moses’s life.
G-d’s covenant with Abraham (and Isaac) is recorded in the Torah (see Genesis 17) but pre-dates the writing.
I still don’t understand your point so I won’t (can’t) comment substantially. You probably have your own interpretation of Judaism which is so far outside the mainstream even a reconstructionist would be horrified.
Let’s just leave it at this.
I just want to make clear, contrary to what many of the posters here seem to believe, one does not have to ‘hate gay people’ to not want a gay parade in Jerusalem. I believe in all the laws of the Torah, and don’t want public events celebrating any aveiroth to occur in our holy city. But if they’re democratically allowed to hold such a parade, I’m democratically allowed to oppose it, and sign petitions asking them not to hold it, etc. I think the reason for the parade being cancelled is obviously sad, but I’m still glad it won’t be happening. If anyone wants to argue this with me (or comment that I’ll see) you’re best off e-mailing, because I usually don’t check back at these threads.