The First Gay Pride Parade ever in Jerusalem

[Daniel Kronemann <kron4155@uidaho.edu>]

>From the New York Times:

Gays Parade Their Pride on Streets of Jerusalem

June 8, 2002
By JOEL GREENBERG


JERUSALEM, June 7 - Jerusalem has had its share of
religious processions, military marches and national
parades throughout its nearly 4,000 years of history.

Today it had its first gay pride parade, over loud protests
from Orthodox Jewish politicians and some demonstrators,
who condemned it as a celebration of sin.

As a scattering of religious hecklers jeered from the
sidelines, a crowd that the police estimated at nearly
4,000 marched under rainbow-colored flags and balloons
through the city center, pouring into a pedestrian mall
that had been shunned by many residents after several
suicide bombings in the area.

The usual pall of tension downtown lifted for a while as
the carnival-like procession moved up the Ben-Yehuda mall
and down King George Street, a main thoroughfare often
lined with Israeli flags but today hung with large rainbow
banners.

"When the flags went up yesterday I couldn't believe that
such a thing could happen in a city that is so polarized
and full of hatred," said a marcher, Eitan Buchwall, 31.

With its substantial Orthodox population and deep rifts
between religious and secular Jews, and between Jews and
Arabs, Jerusalem seemed an unlikely site for a parade
celebrating tolerance and diversity.

Similar parades have been held in recent years in
predominantly secular Tel Aviv, where gays say they feel
more accepted and can visit an assortment of cafes, clubs
and bars that cater to them. There are only a handful of
such places in Jerusalem, and a local gay community center
opened less than four years ago.

Gay organizations are not heard much in Israel's raucous
political and social debates, but they have become more
vocal in recent years. Their representatives have been
invited to Parliament, and more demonstrations supporting
gay rights have been held.

In Jerusalem, a bastion of political as well as religious
conservatism, the gay population has had limited impact.
City officials rejected a request from the organizers to
help finance the march, but agreed to put up flags and
barriers along the procession route.

The march drew strong protests from Orthodox members of the
city council, who called the gathering a provocation. "This
is a march of shame," said Eli Simchaioff, a council member
and deputy mayor from the strictly Orthodox Shas Party.
"These are sick people. Jerusalem is a holy city, and they
want to turn it into Rome or Paris."

As loudspeakers blared "Let the Sun Shine In" and "We Shall
Overcome" over Zion Square this afternoon, gay men and
lesbians converged for the march and an outdoor party at a
city park, complete with performers in drag, under a sign
saying "Love Without Borders."

Wrapped in a rainbow flag, Eliezer Peles, 21, a gay student
who was formerly a strictly Orthodox Jew, said he was
elated. "This city has been choking us," he said, "and
today we're saying that we are here and we don't have to
run and hide."

In recognition of Jerusalem's sanctity to Jews, Christians
and Muslims, the march began with a blessing in Hebrew,
English and Arabic. A speaker wearing a multicolored
skullcap proclaimed the gathering "a sacred moment of
brotherhood and peace" and appealed to Orthodox protesters
nearby: "We have one Father. Worship God in your way and
let us worship in ours."

The protesters would not hear of it.

"This is not Sodom!"
said a sign held by a group of Orthodox youths, who blew
whistles and chanted, "There's no place for homosexuals in
the Jewish state."

Shlomo Zaken, 56, a bus driver, was livid. "You should be
ashamed of yourselves!" he shouted at the gay marchers
before the police took him away. "Not in the Holy City."

"God is punishing the Jewish people for these people's
deeds," he added, asserting that attacks on Israelis were
signs of divine wrath.

But other onlookers said they had no problem with the
parade.

"People can do what they like," said Ofir Ben-David, 30, as
he watched from his souvenir shop. "Live and let live.
They're colorful and they're livening up downtown, which
was dead."

Gil Naveh, 19, one of the marchers, said their mission was
sacred. "We are sanctifiying life," he said. "We're telling
people that they can live the way they want."

Hagai El-Ad, director of the local gay center and an
organizer of the rally, said the aim of the gathering was
to make Jerusalem a more open city.

"If men can walk holding hands in downtown Jerusalem, it
won't detract from the holiness of the city, but contribute
to it," he said. "Every human being was created in God's
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