Jerusalem Gay Pride Event - Banned!
Officials in Jerusalem plan to ban the yearly Gay Pride parade set for next week, claiming the march would upset many of the city's neighbors.
City officials claim a majority of Jerusalem's more than 600,000 residents are either Orthodox Jews or Muslim or Christian Palestinians who would be opposed to the June 30 parade.
Eitan Meir, director general of City Hall, said in a letter to organizers that the City Council and the mayor decided, "it is not right to allow the march or other planned activities to take place in the streets of Jerusalem, fearing that it will create an uproar, offend a wide sector of city residents and out of fear of public disturbances."
While Jerusalem city officials claim they are worried about public disturbances, the past three Pride parades in Jerusalem have been peaceful, with only minor incidents of vandalism and protest.
Parade organizers appealed to Israel's Supreme Court to repeal the decision, saying it violated the local gay community's freedom of expression.
"The actions of the mayor, and those carrying out his policies, are injurious to the values of freedom of expression,'' said parade organizer Hagai El-Ad.
The city's decision comes after the Jerusalem Open House postponed WorldPride -- a 10-day gathering that includes street parties, workshops and a gay film festival -- until August 2006.
Russell Murphy, co-president of InterPride, the organization behind WorldPride, told the PlanetOut Network, "From what I understand, it is just because the events are for LGBT people. This is wrong in any democratic society."
Scott Feinerman, director of media and travel industry relations for Israel's Government Tourist Office, told the PlanetOut Network that LGBT people should interpret these actions as official actions from the government. "Our position is whoever wants to go to Israel, we're open. We know the religious right have their issues, but we welcome all visitors."
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html...06/24/2&page=2
Crazy stuff :(
Regards,
Lee
