Pride Parade celebrated in Tel Aviv
Gay community's main event in Israel held under heavy concerns of political clash over flotilla raid. Politicians take part. Mother of Nir Katz, slain in attack on gay youth center, says 'his murder helped many come out of closet'
Yoav Zitun (06.11.10, 14:24 / Israel News)
Thousands of members of the gay community in Israel and its supporters took to the streets on Friday for the traditional Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv.
The parade kicked off in Meir Park in central Tel Aviv and was to proceed towards Gordon Beach. Unlike in previous years, many of the participants are carrying Israeli flags alongside gay pride flags. However, this year's parade is being held under significant concerns that it will be derailed by political debates surrounding the flotilla raid
Politicians spoke at the kickoff of the event in Meir Park.
Ayala Katz, mother of Nir Katz, the young man slain in last summer's attack on the Tel Aviv gay youth center, spoke as well. This is the first gay pride parade in which she is participating.
"Today, Nir will not be marching with everyone, but I know that if Nir could see me now, he would be very proud of me," she said.
"I know that I, and perhaps other parents and other youngsters, would not be here today if it weren't for the murder, which helped them come out of the closet. I am here because we must respond to all the shows of homophobia, lesbophobia, and transophobia. We must arms ourselves with a lot of determination and patience in order to continue to process that must not be stopped. Even if there are those who will close their eyes so as not to see or will choose to bad mouth, we are here."
Among participants this year is a series of politicians, including Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, Knesset Member Dov Khenin (Hadash), MK Shelly Yacimovich (Labor), and MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz).
In response to the political tensions shadowing the event, Livni said, "I heard concerns that sexual identity is also a political identity, as if there are no gays in the haredi or Arab populations, or among immigrants or old-timers. Defending the gay community must be a mission for free society and its leadership, which needs to speak up and not give in."
Να προσθέσουμε ότι λοαδ οργανώσεις που διαφωνούν με την ισραηλινή επέμβαση στον "στολίσκο για τη Γάζα" πραγματοποίησαν ξεχωριστή πορεία με τη συμμετοχή 100 περίπου ατόμων και κεντρικό σύνθημα το Δεν υπάρχει περηφάνια υπό κατοχή.
Gay community's main event in Israel held under heavy concerns of political clash over flotilla raid. Politicians take part. Mother of Nir Katz, slain in attack on gay youth center, says 'his murder helped many come out of closet'
Yoav Zitun (06.11.10, 14:24 / Israel News)
Thousands of members of the gay community in Israel and its supporters took to the streets on Friday for the traditional Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv.
The parade kicked off in Meir Park in central Tel Aviv and was to proceed towards Gordon Beach. Unlike in previous years, many of the participants are carrying Israeli flags alongside gay pride flags. However, this year's parade is being held under significant concerns that it will be derailed by political debates surrounding the flotilla raid
Politicians spoke at the kickoff of the event in Meir Park.
Ayala Katz, mother of Nir Katz, the young man slain in last summer's attack on the Tel Aviv gay youth center, spoke as well. This is the first gay pride parade in which she is participating.
"Today, Nir will not be marching with everyone, but I know that if Nir could see me now, he would be very proud of me," she said.
"I know that I, and perhaps other parents and other youngsters, would not be here today if it weren't for the murder, which helped them come out of the closet. I am here because we must respond to all the shows of homophobia, lesbophobia, and transophobia. We must arms ourselves with a lot of determination and patience in order to continue to process that must not be stopped. Even if there are those who will close their eyes so as not to see or will choose to bad mouth, we are here."
Among participants this year is a series of politicians, including Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, Knesset Member Dov Khenin (Hadash), MK Shelly Yacimovich (Labor), and MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz).
In response to the political tensions shadowing the event, Livni said, "I heard concerns that sexual identity is also a political identity, as if there are no gays in the haredi or Arab populations, or among immigrants or old-timers. Defending the gay community must be a mission for free society and its leadership, which needs to speak up and not give in."
Να προσθέσουμε ότι λοαδ οργανώσεις που διαφωνούν με την ισραηλινή επέμβαση στον "στολίσκο για τη Γάζα" πραγματοποίησαν ξεχωριστή πορεία με τη συμμετοχή 100 περίπου ατόμων και κεντρικό σύνθημα το Δεν υπάρχει περηφάνια υπό κατοχή.
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