JERUSALEM: Gay pride parade marches through the holy city

Record ID: 276987

  • Title: JERUSALEM: Gay pride parade marches through the holy city
  • Date: 30th July 2010
  • Summary: SECURITY CHECKING PEOPLE ENTERING PROTEST START AREA POLICE LOOKING ON MARCH BEGINNING PEOPLE MARCHING/ RAINBOW OF BALLOONS ABOVE MARCH PROTESTERS HUGGING DURING MARCH
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA1GE9N72NFRMOMD058U5XW9Y8R
  • Story Text: Jerusalem's gay community marches through the streets of the holy city under tight security as Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators protest.
    Nearly 3000 members and supporters of Israel's gay community gathered in Jerusalem on Thursday (July 29) to march in the city's annual Pride Parade, held amid heavy security and opponents' demonstrations.
    "This is our city, this is our country, and it's time for people to recognise the fact that we are, as fabulous as we are, a part of this country and we deserve our rights, and we will be quiet no longer, we'll demand our rights," said Gallina Port Des Bras, a local drag queen who was hosting the event.
    A total of 15,000 policemen were deployed across Jerusalem's city centre to secure the march which began in a central park and proceeded towards Israel's parliament.
    Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld told Reuters that five people were arrested for attempting to disrupt the parade and one more man was arrested for assaulting one of the people who took part in the march.
    Many devout Jews, Muslims and Christians view homosexuality as an abomination. In 2005, an ultra-Orthodox Jew stabbed and wounded three participants in the gay march. He is serving a 12-year sentence. But this year they limited their protest to holding street prayers wearing brown sacks in line with a biblical mourning tradition.
    Jewish extremists gathered at one intersection of the parade's route to protest.
    "People that are sick, people that are doing things that are against the bible, against god, in the holy city is something that is desecrating the city," activist Baruch Marzel said.
    The annual march has been held in the Jerusalem since 2001. This year's parade was held in commemoration of two people who were murdered in a Gay youth club in Tel Aviv one year ago.
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