Jerusalem 'gay' parade still planned
Pastor Dale Morgan
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*Jerusalem 'gay' parade still planned*
Faces opposition from ultra-Orthodox Jews
Open House organization decides to hold gay pride parade in capital this
year
Ynetnews
More controversy? Jerusalem's Open House for Pride and Tolerance has
decided Sunday to hold a gay pride parade in the capital this year as
well, GLBT portal Gogay has reported.
The decision was taken by a 5 to 1 vote during the Open House's
management committee meeting, which featured various community members
who expressed their views on the subject. Most participants backed
another parade in order to show they would not capitulate in the face of
ultra-Orthodox and homophobic threats.
However, some participants did voice concern over the risks inherent in
holding the parade, while others wondered whether the gay community has
not lost its momentum.
Open House Director Hagai Elad said that the date for the next pride
parade will be "set as soon as possible and be published following the
completion of a brief process of checking the opportunities at our
disposal in holding the parade."
"The Open House always saw special significance in holding the parade in
Jerusalem as part of our struggle, and as part of the ongoing struggle
to advance the rights of the community in the city and promote
democratic values in the city," he said.
"This year, we have special circumstances, including the world pride
events in August and the unprecedented waves of incitement against the
community," Elad said.
"The Open House does not intend to be dragged to violence or give in to
it," he added. "In the face of the violence, our response is on the one
hand to continue standing up for our rights with determination, while at
the same time do what we can do as organizers, within reason, in order
to boost the event's security level."
Elad noted that the Open House has not yet discussed the matter with police.
"The successful holding of the parade in Jerusalem this year is an
immense challenge," he said.