Gay March in Jerusalem

[Daniel]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6135778.stm

Jerusalem holds gay pride rally

The event highlights deep divisions between Israeli communities
A controversial gay pride rally has taken place in Jerusalem despite calls from religious leaders to ban it.
About 4,000 gay men, lesbians and civil rights supporters gathered at the Hebrew University stadium.

Security was tight in the city with 3,000 Israeli police drafted in to stop clashes between the demonstrators and orthodox Jews.

About 30 gay protesters who tried to march illegally through the city were arrested by Israeli police.

The proposed march was cancelled by Israeli police on Thursday after Palestinian threats to attack Israel after the shelling in Gaza in which 18 Palestinian civilians were killed.

And

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6133880.stm

Voices: Gay Pride in Jerusalem

An Israeli soldier holds a rainbow-coloured flag at a gay pride parade in Jerusalem on 3 June 2004
Thousands of gays, lesbians and civil rights activists have held a rally in a Jerusalem stadium, despite opposition from ultra-Orthodox Jews.
A gay pride parade through the streets of the holy city had to be cancelled due to security concerns.

Here, people from Israel and the Palestinian territories discuss the increasing opposition they face for being gay.

The interviews following this piece are very interesting.

Or course, there need to be more marches like this one. And there will be. I believe this is what conservatives (no matter what religion you are) need to see and witness. It is their own hate and bigotry that incites violence- not gay people.

March on!

[Daniel]

Wish I could have been there!

[Giancarlo]

The most important message this rally is sending is that "WE ARE PEOPLE TOO!"

Thanks for showing this great news

[BruceChris]

"Drag" racing, I LOVE it!

Ultra Orthodox = Extreem Fundamentalist = Whatever the Moslims call it. EXTREEM fear-based belief systems all. And it is going to take a very long time to begin to present our humanity to these people. God has given us a wonderful opportunity, and, oh yeah, a helluva lotta work.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris