Israel, Sex & Gender

GLBT Shabbatonim & World Pride in J'lem/Tel Aviv (?)

Those of you making your way through Europe or the Middle East this Aug. will have some exciting options for Queer-Jewish events:
1. Queer Shabbaton Amsterdam August 4-6, 2006

In the summer of 2005 Congregation Beith Ha Chidush in Amsterdam organised its first Queer Shabbaton in Europe’s hottest capital. LGBTQ Jews from all over the world came together to focus on arts, performance and politics. By means of workshops and discussions led by international authorities in various fields, participants celebrated the rich and diverse traditions in which their diverse identities are rooted. The Queer Shabbaton Amsterdam also turned out a great way to meet nice Jewish grrrzls and boyz from all over Europe, the States and Israel. Entertainment and delicious shabbat dinners played a central role during this weekend!
Amsterdam Gay Pride will take place on Saturday and the shabbaton will offer a great framework to watch or even participate in this event. The Queer Shabbaton will be held in one of Amsterdam’s oldest synagogues, the Uilenburg Synagogue. Hospitality housing for the shabbaton will be arranged.

2. World Pride: J’lem or Tel Aviv?
This year’s World Pride, rescheduled from last year’s attempt to be in Jerusalem, is now rumored to be moved to Tel Aviv. As expected, world religious leaders are pleased:

Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious and political leaders have put aside their differences and have come together to defend the city against what has been referred to as an “attack.” Earlier this week, Israel’s Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar formally wrote Pope Benedict XVI asking for help in stopping homosexual activists from staging the event. The Vatican, via its ambassador, has already expressed its concerns to the Israeli leadership.

To support the event: http://www.worldpride.net/
To boycott the event (and Israel in general): http://www.boycottworldpride.org/
If anyone has any pro-Jerusalem, but anti-gay boycott info, please send it along.

16 thoughts on “GLBT Shabbatonim & World Pride in J'lem/Tel Aviv (?)

  1. Are you f-ing kidding me?!?!?!!?
    Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel – A DEMOCRACY!
    By definition in a democracy any legal group of citizens has the right (not privilage) to demonstrate in their capital. If the damn religious bigots on Jerusalem city council, me’ah sha’arim, etc. cant get over their bigotry then either give up on Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or MOVE!
    I’m revolted by the absolute homophobia that has caused this. I was in Jerusalem this month, and I saw them collecting the signatures – and I got into a fight with them.
    This kind of bigotry and hatred is Sinat Hinam and is exactly what pride is about combating – small minded, backwards thinking, people who would impose themselves on other people’s lives.
    In conclusion: I have just lost the respect I tried to maintain for the Orthodox community – for some because of their action, for the rest because of their silence. If I’m wrong about this then proove it to me – because secular Jews built Israel for all of us, not for more religious persecution!

  2. Well, I’m not going to respond to the anti-religious rant. However, I will comment that there are legitimate reasons for a democratic country to deny a permit for a march. If it represents an imminent danger to the participants, or if the cost of the necessary security to prevent that danger would be prohibitive. As an Orthodox (Har-el-ish) Jew I have mixed feelings. It saddens me that several of my religious cohorts would resort to violence were the parade to take place (as per the several people who were stabbed last year). It is not a proper way to deal with the problem, and is a sustantial desecration of G-d’s name. On the other hand I am glad that the parade may not take place in Jerusalem.

  3. Just to follow up saying that a group cannot protest for its rights because the people who want to keep them oppressed are willing to be violent because of it makes no sense. It’s like saying that Black people shouldn’t be allowed to have a parade because the KKK wants to hurt them.
    Don’t punish the victim more.

  4. Were you in favor of the right of the American Nazi Party to hold a demo in the largely Jewish Skokie, IL in the 1980s?
    With regards to the parade in J’lem,
    I recognize that the majority of opposition to the parade is from religious fundamentalists (Jews, Muslims and Christians) whose hatred of homosexuality and homosexuals disgusts me.
    But do you think it’s possible to be supportive of equal rights for homosexuals, whether it be in Jerusalem, all of Israel, or the entire world, yet at the same time think that by purposefully holding the parade in Jerusalem, as opposed to largely secular Tel Aviv, there is a certain provocation that should be condemned? Jerusalem, for better or for worse, is a city with a large number of religious residents. That does not mean that the religious should own the city, and that non-religious should not have equal rights, but it’s a fact that it is a largely religious city. Why the need to purposefully offend people?
    The same way imo that it would be completely wrong for there to be a “Jewish-Pride parade” in Jenin, or even the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem for that matter, because the residents would be offended, I think I have the same feelings here.
    That does in no way mean I support hatred against homosexuals, or God forbid any violence at the parade. However, does the provocational aspect of planning the parade in Jerusalem warrant a possible disallowing the parade? Additionally, if the organizers of the parade are looking for acceptance, or at least tolerance, wouldn’t this parade be counterproductive?
    So should the next parade be in a city like Amsterdam, San Francisco, or Tel Aviv? Or in Jerusalem, Tehran, or Mecca?

  5. “So should the next parade be in a city like Amsterdam, San Francisco, or Tel Aviv? Or in Jerusalem, Tehran, or Mecca?”
    I don’t think Jerusalem, Tehran and Mecca are comparable cities given that Jerusalem is democratic and actually fairly open to all different types of people outside ultra orthodox neighborhoods.
    I find attitudes of some so-called religious people to homosexuality to be despicable and really harmful to the individuals who are born into their communities and are gay. As a person who considers myself to be religious, I think it’s imperative for religious communities to deal with this issue and for that reason I think it is great that World Pride will take place in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv. (Although I suppose that in some ways, the promiscuous nature of the parade does give people an excuse for their homophobia.)

  6. “I don’t think Jerusalem, Tehran and Mecca are comparable cities given that Jerusalem is democratic and actually fairly open to all different types of people outside ultra orthodox neighborhoods. ”
    You’re right. I was making the comparison based on the level of holiness it’s seen as by people of 3 different faiths, but in the case of Judaism, the holiest city in the religion’s framework. Maybe Tehran really dosn’t fit in the context of the comparison after all, but I still think Mecca does, because the parade was held in 2000 in Rome (the holiest city in Christianity) and now it’s scheduled to be held in Jerusalem (the holiest city in Judaism).
    Also, just to to clarify on my previous post, I’m in no way comparing Nazi dialogue to homosexulality. I just made the comparison in that I think there is a difference between having the right to voice your opinion in a public sphere, and then going to your adversary’s domain and shouting it in their face.
    I guess my main point is here, is that if the parade is not meant to be confrontational, than why have in J’lem and not TA (I don’t buy it’s because they recognize J’lem as the capital of Israel)? And if it is meant to provoke and create debate, then I ask again, why not have the next one in Mecca? Or a “Jewish-Pride” event in the Jenin refugee camp?

  7. The same way imo that it would be completely wrong for there to be a “Jewish-Pride parade” in Jenin, or even the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem for that matter, because the residents would be offended, I think I have the same feelings here.
    Jason, I feel like this metaphor is a little bit of a stretch- to the extent that queers do engage in night time incursions into the bedrooms of Jerusalemites, their purposes are quite different from, and generally more loving than, those of the representatives of the Jewish people who do so in Jenin. This is, after all, the City of David we’re talking about, and David is arguably the Bible’s gayest character- he even entered the city dancing in his underwear- if that’s not a pride parade, I’m not sure what is. Clearly, the fundamentalist opposition to this event stems from the shinui-initiated cutbacks in stipends to large families- it seems that Haredi yeshivot have cut the book of Kings out of their curricula as a response. Hopefully, with shas back in the government, this controversy will quickly wane.

  8. The promiscuous nature of the parade? Umm, you mean because everything we do is seen as sexual? because straight folks can dance and kiss on the street, fuck and give blow jobs at concerts, but that apparently doesn’t seem to stand out? sorry, but that’s homophobia right there.

  9. Beat-
    point taken. Again, perhaps my analogy was not great. My point though remains, as to questioning whether or not there is a line between the right to demonstrate as homosexuals, whether to practice homosexuality, and whether homosexuals should have all the same rights as heterosexuals, goat-fuckers, or whatever the hell Andy Dick is, between those questions and the question simply of whether the parade in Jerusalem crosses the line a bit from free rights to spit in the face of the religious.

  10. The point is that Jerusalem is the CAPITAL CITY of Israel. My point being if the pride parade was to be heald in bnei brak you would have a point. But you simply cannot say that the capital city of any democratic nation is off limits because of its population. It belongs to all the citizens of Israel.
    If the religious community reffuses this right then they should also ask for the capital to be moved. Until such time it is my right as an Israeli citizen to protest in my capital, and it is the job of the city and the police to protect me.
    That is the essense on the issue here. The second we compromise Israel’s democracy in favour of a theocratic state we have lost the Zionist dream.

  11. This World Pride Event is not just for Israelis. Jerusalem Open House the organizer of this event serves the Muslim community as well as Jewish. It has global intention. Jerusalem as a major center for world faiths is far more appropriate than Tel Aviv. Yes, the event is confrontational as is any public event of this nature. But there is a difference between political confrontation and violent confrontation. The organizers are doing everything possible to provide a secure event. If there is violence it will not be the fault of the parade organizers. Blaming them is like blaming the victim.

  12. The commenters drawing a dichotomy between the pride participants and “religious” people are neglecting that many people involved in Pride are religious. Jerusalem has religious significance to some of the people participating in Pride, not only to the people pissed off by it. I went to the first Jerusalem pride parade in 2002, and (perhaps unlike the Tel Aviv parade) a number of the signs were explicitly religious; for example, “Baruch atah Adonai, she-asani kirtzono” (Blessed are you, God, who has created me according to your will).

  13. A few more things to consider:
    1. as it has been mentioned, this parade is a CELEBRATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. it is heartbreaking to see boycotts of this event by anti-occupation queers; a quick look at the world pride website would make it clear that there are plenty of anti-occupation queers attending world pride; there’s even a ‘human rights day’ – not only will both religious and secular people be coming together for this event, but people of different political viewpoints:
    (from the world pride schedule; JOH=Jerusalem Open House):

    Divided City – One Community
    WorldPride Solidarity Rally at the Jerusalem Separation Wall
    Monday, August 7, 2006
    Holding World Pride in Jerusalem – the city at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – is a significant opportunity for our diverse community to raise a different voice, a voice for progressive moral values, inclusion, and pluralism.
    The reality that surrounds us is one of violent conflict and decades-long occupation. While painful enough, it is becoming even more painful as a result of the separation wall being built up over the last 2 years, which physically divides Jerusalem and leaves many Jerusalemites behind the wall, denying access to most of Jerusalem for Palestinians, including members from our LGBTQ community.
    Our commitment as an organization serving the diverse groups in our community and working towards a more tolerant Jerusalem is to challenge the hostile environment around us and stand behind our principles. The separation wall hurts everyone in our community. Within the official program of the Jerusalem WorldPride events this August, we want to express our solidarity with our community’s members who will not be able to be part of WorldPride – and won’t be able to take part in ongoing JOH programming in the future.

    2. according to every source, this is RUMOR that it’s moving to tel aviv – here’s a hebrew one; see upcoming posts on jewschool for more

  14. For a clear example of sensitivity to queer anti-occupation activits (religious, secular, Palestinian), check out WorldPride’s already scheduled tour of the separation wall:
    WorldPride Solidarity Rally at the Jerusalem Separation Wall
    Monday, August 7, 2006
    Holding World Pride in Jerusalem – the city at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – is a significant opportunity for our diverse community to raise a different voice, a voice for progressive moral values, inclusion, and pluralism.
    The reality that surrounds us is one of violent conflict and decades-long occupation. While painful enough, it is becoming even more painful as a result of the separation wall being built up over the last 2 years, which physically divides Jerusalem and leaves many Jerusalemites behind the wall, denying access to most of Jerusalem for Palestinians, including members from our LGBTQ community.
    Our commitment as an organization serving the diverse groups in our community and working towards a more tolerant Jerusalem is to challenge the hostile environment around us and stand behind our principles. The separation wall hurts everyone in our community. Within the official program of the Jerusalem WorldPride events this August, we want to express our solidarity with our community’s members who will not be able to be part of WorldPride – and won’t be able to take part in ongoing JOH programming in the future.

  15. “But do you think it’s possible to be supportive of equal rights for homosexuals, whether it be in Jerusalem, all of Israel, or the entire world, yet at the same time think that by purposefully holding the parade in Jerusalem, as opposed to largely secular Tel Aviv, there is a certain provocation that should be condemned?”
    I tend to this POV, but the arguments against it in this threat have made an impression on me.
    “The promiscuous nature of the parade? Umm, you mean because everything we do is seen as sexual? because straight folks can dance and kiss on the street, fuck and give blow jobs at concerts, but that apparently doesn’t seem to stand out? sorry, but that’s homophobia right there.”
    Um, I don’t think haredi would appreciate a heterosexual parade of men and women kissing and giving blow jobs ….. and which concerts do straights give blowjobs at (if any) that gays don’t? I would assume that any concert atmosphere that allowed one would allow the other…. if there are any….
    Also gay pride parades seem to be split between the “let’s be dignified so straights will realize we are just like them” and the “let’s be outrageous because we aren’t like the straights.” I would support the former in J’lem more than the latter. It would call the haredi bluff about unseemliness and whatever they were left with they would have to face directly, instead of using outrageousness as an excuse. But that is the old argument about gradualism vs radicalism…. good arguments for either side.
    Are the separation wall tour guides going to acknowledge that the fence has cut the suicide bombings by 90%? Every bombing since the fence was constructed has been someone coming in where the fence isn’t?
    Probably not…..

  16. depends on who’s doing the tour yehudit. if it’s ir amim, they will definitely stress israel’s security concerns. if it’s icahd, it will express israel’s security concerns but place them in the context of demographic warfare. seeing how the open house is a floor above icahd on ben yehuda st., i’m guessing it’s going to be icahd.

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