Bigots Unite To Oppose LGBT Parade In Jerusalem

by Fintan Lane - Anti-War Ireland (and Irish Socialist Network) Thu Jul 13, 2006 12:19

Events like this highlight the contradictions that can exist within liberation movements. Several home rulers (such as 'Crank Hugh O'Donnell') in the late nineteenth century were public homophobes. Many also opposed giving the vote to women.

Gay rights are human rights, and are not a 'side issue' in our collective struggle for a better society.

by pat c Wed Jul 12, 2006 16:32

Heres an excerpt from a Haaretz editorial. Full article at link.

As for the parade, which is slated to take place in central Jerusalem on August 10, it is harshly opposed by the ultra-Orthodox and religious - who make up most of the Jewish population of the city - and representatives of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The arguments raised in criticism of the parade are intolerant, and callously insult homosexuals and lesbians.

One can argue that homosexuals and lesbians should also display tolerance for the feelings of the religious population in Jerusalem and favor holding the parade in a secular city like Tel Aviv. But Jerusalem is not just a city that is sacred to three religions; it is also Israel's capital. A country that bans some of its citizens from holding a parade in its capital city is telling them that they are not legitimate. It is advisable to march near the city's government institutions and keep a distance from the religious sites. Such a compromise could turn the parade into a rally in the Rose Garden - across from the Knesset and the Supreme Court.

Heres a quote from a Meretz memberof the Knesset:

Meretz MK Zehava Gal-On called the group of religious leaders "a dangerous coalition." "It is a danger to democracy," she said. "Since when have we put Jerusalem on a pedestal?"

by pat c Wed Jul 12, 2006 14:35

Palestinians are being slaughtered in Gaza but in Jerusalem Christian and Islamic bigots are more worried about oppressing gays. They have no problems in working with Jewish fundamentalists on this issue.

Faiths in Jerusalem United Over Gay March

Wednesday July 12, 2006 10:01 AM

By RAVI NESSMAN

Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) - Christian leaders condemned it. Jewish radicals put a bounty on participants. Muslim clerics threatened to flood the streets with protesters. Jerusalem's conflicting religions have found rare common ground: opposition to an international gay pride parade next month.

``We consider this offensive and harmful to the religious integrity of the city,'' said Sheik Taissir Tamimi, head of the Islamic court in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

``This group of homosexuals, we consider them impure,'' he said, calling on Palestinians to take to the streets to prevent marchers from entering east Jerusalem, where the holy sites are located. They ``must not be allowed to enter Jerusalem.''

by pat c Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:49

Chief Rabbi Amar calls on Pope to denounce Gay Pride Parade

By Amiram Barkat and Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondents

Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar has sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, asking the Catholic leader to condemn the annual International Gay Pride parade scheduled to take place in Jerusalem in August.

Amar asked the pope to "strongly and unequivocally come out against this terrible phenomenon, out of hope that a general protest from different religious leaders will awaken the lost hearts who are deceiving themselves and immeasurably harming their souls, and discourage the willful wrongdoer from cursing and corrupting the human way."

Religious and ultra-Orthodox legislators on Tuesday expressed their great dismay at plans to hold the annual event in Jerusalem.

Full story at link.

by gordi Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:25

Nahmanides, ALEK. Can't you say Ramban and make it more simple?
By the way, the Aguda is preery corrupted, and tried to sabotage the international parade in Jerusalem (cause it's in Jerusalem and not in Tel Aviv, ofcoarse). The Open House in Jerusalem is a LGBT organization that works much better.

by Nahmanides the clever - (look him up on wikipedia) Wed Jul 05, 2006 20:13

The Israeli same sex lobby have not adopted the mysterious habit of Western states in putting the "L" before the "G", they have rather respected alphabetical order modified by demographic accuracy and are unique in calling themselves "GLBT".

& I doth verily quote -
"The Agudah (formerly the SPPR) is a volunteer-based non-profit organization
serving the GLBT community in Israel.
The Agudah is the only national GLBT organization in the Middle East"
http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/stonewall/2295/

actually the Agudah is the only GLBT group in the world. Pat C. & I having ruminated this msytery many times (c/f http://ireland.indymedia.org/article/76807#comment155180 http://ie.indymedia.org/article/76846#comment155636 ) which reminds me I forgot to update the Sunday Papers "willy Wilde" edition & explain to ye all how the "B" in LGBT ; BGLT & BGLTvTs got sidelined in Western Social development. And its an important issue, if we had developed a better understanding of bisexuality and a tolerance of same - the gender political landscape would have been very different. I know one of the Israeli GLBT group, he's pretty central to the Levant indymedia collectives, very very anti-religious, and was the person indeed who insisted at the J16 - J18 2005 first Mediterranean Social Forum Indymedia meeting,http://indymedia.ie/article/69020 that we all adopt the term "apartheid state" in reference to the Israel / Palestine problem. He quite convincingly argued that the precise use of words is very important, & one ought not fall into the trap of using terms like "zionazi" or "islamofascist".

The GLBT group "Agudah" also run a holiday maker sofa surf service which stretches from Syria to Egypt, as well as helping buidget travellers to see real life in the middle east states, it also serves as an introduction network for people who can't really "get out of the closet" I think the expression is....

by pat c Wed Jul 05, 2006 14:57

Gaza is under siege and this is whats worrying Arab MPs! They need to get their priorities in order.