Free Republic

After being postponed due to war in Lebanon, World Pride parade will take place one day before eve of Rosh Hashana. 'This year, parade has great significance in light of wave of incitement that Jerusalem community suffered from,' Open House says The Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance organization announced on Monday that the World Pride parade will take place on September 21 in Jerusalem. The pride parade was previously set to take place in August, but it was postponed due to the war in Lebanon. The Open House views the parade, which will take place a day before...

Rabbi Akiva preferred 'love your neighbor as yourself' over the 'abomination' of homosexual sex To those Orthodox Jews who oppose the Gay Pride parade I write to you as a secular Jew, with a deep respect for you and your beliefs. But only when that respect is mutual. My principles, morals and my way of life are as important to me as Jewish law is to you. I feel no inferiority, need to apologize or discomfort with my "partial" Judaism. My cart is not empty, and my beliefs are well reasoned and crystallized. They are called secular, liberal humanism. I...

Ultra-Orthodox politicians join Islamic Movement, chief rabbi enlists pope. Result: Homosexuals, lesbians from across globe to apparently not march in capital Political pressures have apparently worked: Ynet has learned that WorldPride 2006, the global gay pride parade, which was scheduled to be held next month in Jerusalem, is expected to move to Tel Aviv at the last moment. Police officials confirmed that this was the apparent situation, but that a final decision has not yet been made. Officially, sources at the police explained that the reason for moving the parade is the Jerusalem Police's fear in light of the event's...

In response to MK Ibrahim Sarsur's threat that homosexuals who dare to approach Temple Mount during World Pride 2006 will do so over Muslims' dead bodies, Charles Merrill says 'I will be approaching the Temple Mount out of love and forgiveness to those who hate us' Last week a Muslim leader, Knesset Member Ibrahim Sarsur (United Arab List-Ta'al), warned gays that "if they dare to approach the Temple Mount during the World Pride 2006 parade in Jerusalem they will do so over our dead bodies." Charles Merrill, 72, a gay rights leader, stated in response: "I will be approaching the...

Jerusalem police are expected to decide this week whether to allow a controversial international gay pride parade to take place in the city this summer amidst growing international opposition to the event by an unusual coalition of religious Christians, Jews, and Muslims around the world. The super-sensitive police decision, which will be taken by Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter in consultation with Jerusalem police chief Ilan Franco, comes after months of simmering tension over the planned August event, with concerns growing of a violent showdown between extremist opponents of the parade and its participants if it goes ahead as scheduled....

The heads of three prominent Jerusalem-based Christian organizations on Tuesday lambasted plans to hold an international gay parade in the city this summer, and urged Israeli authorities to reconsider allowing the controversial event to take place. "It is clear that Jerusalem has been deliberately targeted not because it has any particular significance to the gay and lesbian community, but because of the supreme importance this city holds for those of biblical faith. "The decision to hold this event in Jerusalem can only be seen as a calculated and confrontational act meant to provoke and offend those who adhere to timeless,...

Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak expects thousands from around world to attend Modesty Parade, scheduled for 2 days before WorldPride parade in Jerusalem this summer, to negate ‘abomination and defilement’ of pride march and ‘demonstrate the extraordinariness of the way of the Torah’ Battle against holding the annual gay WorldPride parade in Jerusalem this summer heats up: Repentance Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak announced that he plans to hold a “modesty parade” in response to the gay pride parade scheduled to march through Jerusalem August 11. The event is planned to precede the WorldPride parade by a few days, and expects an attendance of...

The Pink CityLocal tourism officials plan on turning Tel Aviv into the gay capital of the world; Israel Hotel Association official: Tel Aviv and gay people are a perfect fitTel Aviv is known throughout the world as “The White City” due to the many Bauhaus-style structures that adorn its streets, but the city may soon be called “The Pink City,” as tourism industry heads are planning on transforming the city into the gay capital of the world, Israel’s leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported. “Tel Aviv and gay people are a perfect fit,” an Israel Hotel Association (IHA) official said. The...