J'lem Open House seeks permit to hold gay pride parade in June

hi i don,t get what you said

I for one do hate no one./ It is not against being the way you are that the protest is being raised. It is against a proud display of something that cannot be displayed in Jerusalem. Why not? Jerusalem has rules which make this city Holy. Sex is kept indoors, Jerusalem is modest. So no parade. Does that matter?

those who declare war on Jerusalem and it's values are many. Amongst them there are also Jews who do not love themselves nor their people. And the must demonstrate this hatred. Although one feels pity for such people still Jerusalem must be protected from desecration since our lives depend on that. Any Jew, even G'dfearing non Jews understand that. But the proud pride marches on.

everyone is bisexual. same sex attractions are completely normal.. if you think that God would prefer for you to hate your fellow man than to love him, you need to seriously reevaluate your perception of him and yourself. The problem here is extremism. Religion and society instill shame in every single one of us, and pride is simply the natural response to this travesty. Jerusalem is the perfect city to hold a Gay Pride Celebration. When the one thing that christians, moslems, and jews can agree upon is that God HATES a certain group, it is precisely that group that will shed some light and spread some desperately needed peace.

I know, i've watched gay parades in Frisco. A lot of fun. But gays in Amsterdam are parading mostly out of festive mood, here in Israel they are fighting for their rights. It's very different story.

I think faith is a wonderful thing, when it's done right. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are holy to most of us on this list... and what are the major lessons they teach? Love your enemy. Embrace the stranger. Welcome the person who isn't like you. That is "bible truth," for those of you are are being so hateful in every direction.

I can only imagine your anguish. Yes, often in our posts we're insensitive. I think for Christians we feel under siege for our faith, ridiculed by atheists & gays, so passing insensitive comments bcomz easy. Sad, but true. I humbly apologise if my words have been harsh. I can't speak for Jews, Muslims and other Christians. What I'll say is this: 1. Jesus loves us as we are. BUT He loves us too much to leave us that way. 2. Why does YHWH call homosexual practice a sin? I don't know- but He does. 3. Does YHWH love you any less for your struggle? NO, I believe He also makes His grace more abundant in our struggles if we will ask for HIS strength. 4. I have no wise words to give except this. I heard an ex-gay tell his testimony of how Christ had renewed his life- now a happily married dad. What some say is impossible, Jesus achieved for him. 5. So, I don't know the WHY's but I know CHRIST is able to walk this rough, but not hopeless,path with you. In YHWH Psalm

You should learn to read the full text before making unsubtantiated claims. 1. Jesus did not condone sin- He rebuked outright. 2. Note: the incident with the woman caught in adultery did NOT end with Jesus saying, 'He who is without sin cast the first stone'. The incident ends with Jesus commanding the woman to 'go and SIN NO MORE'. Yes, those were Jesus' own words- He takes no delight in sin. 3. Kindly provide me with any BIBLICAL reference that says that love delights in sinfulness and wickedness. NONE exists, 1 Corinth 13 is clear that LOVE does not delight in evil. 1 Corith 6:9 declares homosexuality to be evil. 4. If in doubt: remember that Jesus is YHWH. YHWH is the one who judged Sodom. My Bible says YHWH has not changed. I think we should remain Biblically correct- not political correct.

unfortunately the city is falling to haredim, provocatively dressed and walking everywhere, but it does not mean they live everywhere. With regard to haredim marches, what about simhattora march for instance?

Because Mecca isn't "my" city! I'm Jewish, and Jerusalem is holy to me. My friends who live in Jerusalem should be able to march because it is their city, just as I am able to be visible in my city in CT. I think gay & lesbian Muslims should have the right to march in Mecca, and Catholics in Vatican City (like Tatiana said), and Jews and Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem. The point is that you march WHERE YOU EXIST. You don't move to a different city because people will like you more, you work in your own community for the right to exist.

...against gay people (or anyone else for that matter) because the Nazis did that - (...) - gays and Jews were murdered side by side in the holocaust death camps", as were Catholics. More than 3000 priests were in Dachau, and the number of Catholics murdered, although impossible to estimate (for reasons given in http://www.ushmm.org/research/library/faq/ details.php?lang=en&topic=03#03), was very high. So I fully agree with you, of course.

estimated 15,000 gay people murdered at Auschwitz. I dont suppose the Nazis bothered to separate the Jews from the Homosexuals when they dumped their remains in the mass graves. Read 'The Men With The Pink Triangle' by Heinz Heger.

That we hear so much from you proves you are not oppressed. If you wanted to March in Mecca you might prove something; or do you only have the courage to defile peaceful religions?

Why not Mecca?

No they were not murdered side by side. When the Nazis began sorting through their various prisoners, homosexuals were separated out from other communists, rapists and petty criminals for use in very specific experiments to try to determine whether or not their sexual preference could be cured by chemical or surgical means. Sort of like how they seperated out twins. There was no unique homosexual roundup however as several high ranking Nazi Officials would likely have wound up dying beside them. See The Night of Long Knives.

When Blacks in America marched, the police sprayed them with fire hoses and sent out dogs to attack them. They were beaten over the head with clubs and thrown in prisons and sometimes killed. If homosexuals really want to make a comparable point, I suggest they march in Mecca, because the way things are going, they won’t be able to March anywhere in fifty years when Sharia has been imposed in most of the countries that such rampant Hedonism has weakened.

Of course they hate The High And Mighty. He SMOTE them, or at least he smote the last big bunch of them to take over a town in the Holy Land. Better not look back when trying to distance yourself from these guys, you might turn in to a Pillar of Salt!

There is no good reason for a Celebration of Sodomy in Jerusalem, or the Vatican or Mecca for that matter. These Sodomites are simply trying to impose on the religions of others. Their motives is clearly not so much pride as revenge, against the religions that managed to survive for thousands of years, by shunning them and their destructive lifestyles. I suggest they march on Mecca instead. They would make the finest of biological weapons.

Homosexuals have a problem, because everything has a cause. If homosexuality is biological it can be cured and if it is psychological, they are in fact working to inflict it on others and are solely responsible for their condition. Neither is politically acceptable to their global sodomites movement. Either it is biological, not their fault and can be cured; or it is all in their heads and a sign of weakness, if not outright viral behavior. It is a Paradox.

You call homosexuality a disease? My dear, you are the one that is sick, you sure sound like you are ! I wish scientists would work on finding a cure for pedophiles and child molesters, now that would be the discovery of the century!

I still feel that Jerusalem is not a suitable city for a gay parade. Tel Aviv is the obvious logical city for his. Your comments made me smile, you are right about the (ultra)orthodox people parading on a daily basis, so true!

Okay, so the parade in Israel is modest, fine. The ones held in Amsterdam (the city where anything is possible!) were rather inmodest to say the least.

but, the fact is I AM gay. I have begged GOD numerous times; PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make me straight! PLEASE, oh GOD...MAKE IT GO AWAY! PLEASE, I BEG YOU! But, it doesn't go away. I am now 29 years old and have concluded that its NOT going away. Thus, I find it quite IGNORANT to read statements by "Ann Coulter" who spew vitriol at ppl like me...just because we happen to have a different sexual orientation...which we did NOT choose! However, I also agree with Shimon. Seems all he is asking is that the gay community respect Jerusalem as a city HOLY by Jews, Christians AND Muslims. I don't think that is too much to ask. I mean, its true that gay pride parades sometimes become displays of gay flamboyance. But, please, STOP THE HATE! I DID NOT CHOOSE TO BE GAY AND IF I HAD THE CHOICE, I WOULD SURELY CHOOSE STRAIGHT! WHO WOULD CHOOSE TO BRING SUCH VICIOUSNESS UPON THEMSELVES? WHO WOULD CHOOSE TO MAKE THEMSELVES A TARGET FOR GAY BASHERS? PEACE!

Jews shouldnt descriminate against gay people (or anyone else for that matter) because the Nazis did that, so its not for Jews to decide who is an inferior human otherwise its kind of really hypocritical being that gays and Jews were murdered side by side in the holocaust death camps.

Much rather have a law abiding gay person living next door to me than a land grabbing, war mongering hetro.

I attended the first one to see what people were complaining about. The rest of them I was there to protest the existance of these spectacles.

Discrimination?? What would Moshe say today? Oi Vey!! Child molesters, rapists, drug pushers... heck, even thieves and murderers have been harshly "discriminated" against and punished by society to live in small rooms behind iron bars. But who cares about divine guidance anymore? Adonai's guidance counts for nothing? Well then, lets drop all civilized standards of morality and healthy society and just declare all these perverse sins and criminal activities to be simply another form of alternative lifestyles. Hey, while we're at it, lets grant a get out of jail free card and give them all a permit with the homos to have a parade in Jerusalem too!! While we're at it, let's say there is no such thing as sin anymore, except for the act of labelling anything a sin - that one act can be criminalized as punishable by stoning because it voices an ancient attitude that is "intolerant and discriminatory" and out of place in our modern "enlightened rump riding" world. Cheers and Bottoms up!

they're rebelling against God.they're mad at God.they're walking in darkness, their conscience is already seared.

I hope that all the Gays in America who have given their support to Israel will rethink .

Gays inIsrael shoulkd not be expecting too much from a state that claims to be a democracy.

although its not my thing, I think its important for gays to march. Women did it and won, blacks did it and won, now its gays turn. They have been discriminated far too long.

For theatre so obsessed with drama so depressed it's hard to sell a ticket on Broadway. shows should be more pretty, shows should be more witty, shows should be more...what's the word?...Gay. Exactly...no matter what you do on the stage keep it light keep it bright, keep it gay. whether its murder, mayhem or rage, dont complain, its a pain, keep it gay. People want laughter when they see a show, the last thing their after is a litany of wow...a happy ending will pep up your play,keep it gay keep it gay keep it gay.

"i think the gays should be respectful and not march in Jerusalem out of respect for Jews, christians and muslims" The point is that most of us ARE jews, christians, and muslims. Jerusalem is just as holy to me as it is to the black-hatted orthodox, but I would never try to kill them for choosing to exist in a way that I don't agree with. Jerusalem belongs to me just as much as it belongs to them, and I don't want to parade naked or having an orgy, I just want to walk down the street and have people know that I exist. The Orthodox can do that every day without fearing for their lives. But if I walk down the street, I don't "look" gay - I'm invisible - everyone assumes I don't exist. If I walk around wearing rainbows and announcing myself that way, I risk being attacked. But if I march, peacefully, in a group of other gays & lesbians, then I can be seen without having to worry so much about being stabbed by one of my fellow Jews. And that's a sick thing to have to fear.

about 2 millenia ago Jesus was working on a cure for bigotry.

Psalm et al. Jesus called on all of us to love one another; he called on us to put down the stones of hate and let he without sin throw the first stone. Jesus said he loved all the tax collectors, the robbers, the prostitutes, the lepers; he didn't ever mention the gays, but I doubt that he was about to say "oh yes I love everyone - except the fags; keep on stoning them". The hypocrisy in this "debate" is nothing new to any gay person anywhere in the world. There are calls on this thread for the gays to "get over it" and to "normalise". Would love to. Bit hard when evangelicals refuse to listen to the central tenet of Jesus' message.

Scientists in the US are having success in curing the homosexuality disease in certain animals. Hopefully, this process will one day soon cure gays from their illness. Most gays want to be normal human beings, not faggots. I am hopeful that this therapy will rid the world of a troublesome disease, no less threatening than polio and leprosy.

As i liberal democrat, i fully support your right to parade (with a licence like everyone else)wherever you chose, and in support of whatever you chose. This is not an issue of rights. Clearly, you are well within yours and any attempt to prevent such freedom of expression is dispicable. Having said that, i would like to point out that while you certainly have the right to parade where you chose, you may want to consider what effect that will have on the people around. Just a thought, but "parading" (bad pun) your sexuality through Jerusalem will offend some Jews, Christians and Muslims. You know that these people find your choice of lifestyle distasteful. If it is full assimilation, social harmony and a lack of stigmatization that you seek, than doing something you know will be interpreted as offensive only hinders these objectives. You can't expect religious homophobes to suddenly embrance you overnight, and flaunting homosexuality in their faces only serves to radicalize opinion

Listen up boys. From your messages both in tone and, in your case Shimon sheer volume, it is clear that you really have a big issue with homosexuality. A sure sign, if ever there was one, that you haven't quite resolved your own sexual identity as yet. Not to worry, there are plenty of phone-lines available where you can call up, confidentially, and talk through these issues. The volunteers on these lines are well-trained to deal with people who find it hard to accept their true nature. There really is no need, in this day and age, to live a lie any longer. You should be free to be yourselves, no longer wound up with bitterness and hatred for those who have had the courage to step outside that closet.

These folks are going to be proud of being "Social Deviats" - they have deviated from normal society. The fact that they want to be up in your face is no more than an effort to make their sickness seem a normal part of life. Thank all of those out there who push the politically correct method of viewing the world. To Israel; it's no more than you'll put up with!

on the one hand, i think the gays should be respectful and not march in Jerusalem out of respect for Jews, christians and muslims. however, i also think that the ultra orthadox shouldn't get their way every time they feel like rioting. they also need to learn to respect democracy whether they like it or not.

TO Avraham, these gays/queers are your brethren...they are mostly jewish queers. This is what your zionists came to the land of Palestine for? They came to march in their gay parade in the streets of Holy Jerusalem. Your knesset member fighting at a nightclub. Even one of your ambassadors caught drunk and naked somewhere in Latin America. NICE JOB jewish people...Oh yah brush your teeth because you've contaminated the air w/ an untreatable bacteria

The homosexuals just had a parade in Jerusalem back in November. Now they want another one in June? Is this some kind of semi-annual political maintenance item now? So what are they so proud of? That they can flaunt their filthy lifestyle in the Holy City? They are so proud they have chosen to sin against G-d, nature and their own bodies in a way that glorifies the fact that they get sexual excitement by inserting their private parts into biologically incorrect cavities of the same sex and then dare the Creator G-d to display some sort of reaction to their unnatural rebellious perversions? Doesn't anyone else recognize the obvious fact that if we all lived like them, there would be no more babies, no more familes and no more human race on earth within 100 years? EXTINCTION! Gimme a break !! They had their parade last year. Wait another 1000 years for the next parade permit!!

FYI "straight" people also enjoy sodomy

Every time these sexual exhibitionists plan an assault on the Holy City of Jerusalem, some catastrophy befalls the entire country. In August 2005 it took the "Disengagement" to disengage their would-be public sex-spectacle from our city; July 2006 required the Lebanon War to rain on their proposed sex-parade. These hedonists, who define their entire existance on deviant/recreational sexual choices, are obviously so de-sensatized that they can't take these rather direct "hints" from Above that their behaviours are unwelcome here. They are not just self-destructive; they bring destruction with them. Despite their PC cliches, they have targeted Jerusalem because their real agenda is to assault holiness itself. The advice "don't do it in the streets" is lost on them, but these are our streets and our patience is wearing thin.

I totally support you in your comment. Can't believe what most people are actually saying here....as if they know "THE TRUTH" about mankind.

what about the duck-billed platypus, marisa? that poor conflicted creature must have been a big divine OOPS!

First of all, when do the orthodox march? Secondly, when do they march in a predominantly anti-orthodox judaism community that would find their marching offensive!? THAT is what a gay pride parade in jerusaelm is like. And apparently, u havent been to Jerusalem ever. Its not like the Hareidim are locked away and never out on the streets in main or any part of Jerusalem for that matter....they exist in just about every corner of jerusalem so it is impossible to avoid them

I am trying to ask. I know the answer though. Gays and lesbians do not have right for the parade or gathering simply because they are not approved in the Torah. And those who think they are living according to the god?s will have unquestionable right to judge people, send them in and out of the city, decide for them the way of they live out of they arrogance and bias, sorry, I do not agree! If they do not respect other groups freedom and rights they can leave Jerusalem themselves!

Sure, they can be Orthodox, but do they have to be so obvious and wear those black hats and fringe and schmattas on their heads? Do they have to flaunt it so openly like that? Why can't they just be Orthodox in private, where my children won't have to see it and think it's an acceptable lifestyle?

Other people do have parades, you may call them religious manifestations on many occasions; you may call them religious celebrations, does not matter. Orthodox Jewish, Orthodox Christians, Catolics have their own. Many other groups of people have their own gatherings at the places they live, festivals, carnivals?.. and no one from one group calls to another to leave the city, Gay people are residents and have full right to gather and have festival. They are not passing by haredi hoods and not showing nude, so what is your problem?

Israel has recalled its ambassador to El Salvador after he was found drunk and naked apart from bondage gear. This was from the UK papers today. I think he could help out here

i do live with it, and i do not even have a problem with it whatsoever. What i DO have a problem with is antagonizing a population for no reason. there are many gay people in Jeruselam, i am sure. so what? other citizens dont have parades, why should they? What do they gain except controversy?

You still not getting this. This is a political, cultural struggle, this is not about "showing too much skin". All previous parades were very very modest!

Relax dear, too many you in this talk back. Regarding your posts, everyone has his own preferences. I don't like seeing black-dressed haredim on the streets of my city BUT i have to cope with them, they live here and reside here as i am residing. And the same for you, not all Jerusalem residents share you philosophy and way of life, so you should live with it. Sorry, mate.

Tel Aviv is THE city, she never sleeps, full of life and a Gay parade there would not be a problem. Why on earth such a parade in the biblical city of Judaism/Christianity/Islam? Let J'lem remain a sacred city please ! Have the parade in Haifa, Beersheva, Tel Aviv, Netanya, any city but the holiest of all : Jerusalem. I am not orthodox, I am a liberal minded thinking person. I am not against anyone showing too much skin, since I am a nudist myself, but again please NOT IN JERUSALEM !

How can people not realize the hypocricy in marching for respect while disrespecting the people they march in front of by marching in jerusalem?!!

You are 100% right and thank you for realizing the hypocricy in marching for respect while disrespecting the people they march in front of by marching in jerusalem.

This is nothing but a matter of a lack of common decency on the part of the gay parade march organizers. TO have this parade in a predominantly religious area is nothing short of disgusting, childish, and pathetic. Its nothing but a slap in the face to the locals. Nobody NEEDS to accept gay people to anything. People are allowed to have religious and idealogical differences. THE PARADE PEOPLE SHOULD LEAVE JERUSALEM AND ITS CITIZENS ALONE!!!

Israel should say NO to perversion. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil (perversion)." Proverbs 8:13. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18.

Nobody is asking YOU to support Gay behavior. But you do have to support the Gay Community's RIGHTS UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC LAWS OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL to hold a peaceful march in public. Anyone who causes violence or disturbance against this should be arrested and dealt with like all anti-Democratic religeous fanatics who want to control OTHER'S beliefs.

For goodness' sakes, the gay marchers don't want to steal and corrupt your children, they don't want to stage a takeover of the city, they simply want to be recognized as an unjustly persecuted minority that refuses to be silenced. And good for them.

So, G-d must be okay with it! That said, there is no need to stir up a hornets nest by marching in Jerusalem. If we expect others to respect us, we should respect the religious convictions of others who view Jerusalem as holy ground. Hence, lets march in Tel Aviv instead!

Shimon, I'm amazed that you have the time to worry about whether young people will see the gay pride march and the effect it will have on them. Living in Jerusalem they everyday witness violence, bigotry and militarism. If you want to do something to ease the stress of growing up in this city, do something useful - work to end the Occupation.

The most intolerant people on earth are the religious. That is why so many people have become less religious and no longer attend synagogue.

I, even as a gay man myself, hate these events. "Gay Pride" events usually consist of ridiculous behavior and crude parading that should only be witnessed at Mardi Gras or Carnival....instead of these events (actually, jerusalem is much better than most places when it comes to this), Gay Rights parades or rallies should be tasteful and carried out that presents ourselves as a minority entitled to its rights, not as sexual deviants, which is what a lot of gay pride events seem to want to through out there

So stupid - we had parade in Vatican, it was fine. No-one is just trying to get bad attention, they are trying to get people to see that they exist. The parade in Vatican was fine, no-one got hurt, no-one tried to kill the marchers. I thought it was beautiful. Why not Jerusalem too?

YOUR capital is SODOM. It is easy to find, just follow the signs to the DEAD SEA. Now, the reason why we 'religious fanatics' get 'excited' about these parades is that gays are trying to force something they can't have. They can't have the approval of YHWH or of believers in YHWH- period. We don't hate you, but we despise any form of sin. Jesus the Saviour calls ALL of us to repentence. We do not claim to be perfect, but we will not support PRIDE in sin and abomination. The truth is, everytime these parades happen, they raise the ire of those who on any other day treat gays with Christ-like compassion, while still calling homosexuality a sin. Hence, these tactics will not make we so-called 'religious fanatics' more accepting of this sin. It WON'T happen. Trust me, if adulterers and liars wanted to hold a pride march, I would still be against it. Sin is sin.

As Marisa Elana said, the march is sensitive in that it avoids ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods, it also does not pass by religious sites ? whether the Kotel, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, or the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Maybe Independence Park to the Liberty Bell Park is too short?if the route could be sensitively extended to head up to the Knesset (there are quite a few people there who need to hear the message too?) I for one would be willing to walk the extra mile. Hopefully one day there will be one in Ramallah and Beirut?or Riyadh and Tehran, rather than the state executions of gay people which take place in the latter two locations. The fact that Jersualem has a Pride should be a source of pride for all.

we must all march until we are equal. YES, that means Jerusalem, Vatican. Gays pay taxes like everyone else....they (israelis) are entitled to march and be seen and heard---ITS CALLED DEMOCRACY !

It is one thing that you are wrong. Most religous people do not hate gays, just like we don't hate Shabbes-breakers. And I would oppose a Shabbes-breakers march allways as much. I've met and worked with gay persons, some of them nice, a couple very much not so. Non of that changes the words of Hashem. The funny thing is that your post is by far the most hateful, intolerant, bigot and judgemental posted on the subject today. So I'll just assume you are trying to be ironic.

Will God destroy Jerusalem if gays parade there? I say go for it; let's see if it happens!

iN THEIR CONSUMING INTEREST IN PEACE sAUDIS HAVE OFFERED TO HOLD PARADE IN mECCA. In accordance with Muslim Law they have agreed to behead the participants at airport, so participants can truly be GAY, marching headless without any sensibilities. HAMAS has jumped in saying parade can be held in their country in Gaza city if participants agree to wear masks and shoot automatic weapons in the air. It seems as if all these provocative displays to offend sensibilities are ill-advised, and ill intended, and have nothing to do with human or civil rights, but have to do with attention and deliberate offensiveness and aggression.

"G-d does not make mistakes." Of course G-d doesnt make mistakes....but people often do. And others do not wish that their family knows of such ways of life...its not your job or place to educate them. Leave them alone. Why is it so hard to accept that not everyone agrees with you and that they do not with their children know about this stuff...especially at a young age?

"- because we may be one-eyed, or red-headed, or short... but people don`t try to kill us for those things." Those things do not go against the laws of Judaism and do not offend the very people u are marching in front of. The march is nothing but a slap in the face to those who do not agree with you...its childish and its total nonsense. People are allowed to disagree with u...and you are allowed to disagree with them. Deal with it!

Their have been fights, rallies against it, peaceful protests, and even some violent ones against this parade idea every year. Why on earth would u keep on antagonizing the people that dont agree with your lifestyle unless your only point is to bother them!? Its not a parade...its a disrespectful slap in the face to the citizens of Jerusalem and it should not be allowed.

The same thing happens every year and despite the opposition that proves that they arent wanted, they refuse to move the rally to Tel aviv, where the people are much more supportive of such lifestyles. Why? THE ONLY POINT OF THIS PARADE IS TO CAUSE TROUBLE AND BOTHER PEOPLE!! If that were not tha case, they wouldnt have it in places that are outright against it.

Israel should note: In Revelation 11:8, the apostle John writes a disturbing statement about JERUSALEM in the end days. He refers to it as:'the great city, which SPIRITUALLY is called SODOM and Egypt, where also our LORD was crucified'. Will Israel stoop to such abominable levels as to allow Jerusalem to become a spiritual Sodom in the end days? I wonder if another Evangelical has a different perspective on this?

- because we want to be seen, not as a spectacle, but as people. - because we march everywhere else that we live, and in all the cities that we love. - because we may be one-eyed, or red-headed, or short... but people don't try to kill us for those things. - because so many people in Jerusalem would deny us the right to exist, even though g-d created each one of us. G-d does not make mistakes. - because we are inspired by the movements and marches of the past that gave women the vote, that de-segregated the American South, and we hope that we, too, will one day be free. The parade/march has been carefully planned by the Open House staff to ensure that it does not go anywhere near the ultra-orthodox neighborhoods. The goal is not to give offense - the goal is to march peacefully, and hopefully show the world that the city that most of us think of as the holiest place in the world is not the most bigoted and intolerant.

IT WONT ONLY DISPLEASE THE RELIGOUS JEWS,BUT MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS ASWELL!!!!!RELIGOUS LEADERS OF THESE THREE RELIGIONS ARE OPPOSED TO IT!!!

Thanks for the thoughtful post.

Every decent man in this country should support your rightful struggle with religious coercion and hatred. Do not give up to dosim this time!

Satan is never satisfied. He can never resist the opportunity to flaunt his abominable acts for all to see. Further, he will FORCE all to see his works displayed. Anne Coulter...author of 'Godless'?

Apart from the gay people in this site, it seems the rest of you people are mentally sick, afraid and clearly stupid in your knowledge of gays. What is wrong with YOU people? You should be ashamed of yourselves. They are not lepers, they are not diseased they are human beings! HUMAN BEINGS! You would not scream and shout about any other parade in Jerusalem but because you clearly know nothing about them you are afraid. How sad. If society accepted the gay community they would not need to fight for the right to prove that they are indeed a large part of society. It's because YOU have tried and hung them, based on no knowledge at all. You all make me sick. You are not all pure human beings, don't be so quick to judge. However, it would be nice if everyone could agree on a place for their parade without anyone coming away feeling they have been cheated. I'm not gay and not religious. Maybe that's why I am more forgiving and understanding. I don't have God yelling in my ears.

Apart from the gay people in this site, it seems the rest of you people are mentally sick, afraid and clearly stupid in your knowledge of gays. What is wrong with YOU people? You should be ashamed of yourselves. They are not lepers, they are not diseased they are human beings! HUMAN BEINGS! You would not scream and shout about any other parade in Jerusalem but because you clearly know nothing about them you are afraid. How sad. If society accepted the gay community they would not need to fight for the right to prove that they are indeed a large part of society. It's because YOU have tried and hung them, based on no knowledge at all. You all make me sick. You are not all pure human beings, don't be so quick to judge. However, it would be nice if everyone could agree on a place for their parade without anyone coming away feeling they have been cheated. I'm not gay and not religious. Maybe that's why I am more forgiving and understanding. I don't have God yelling in my ears.

I am against any public display of anyone who doesn't look like me, dress like me, belive like me, gets their hair cut like me, wears a hat like me. I therefore outlaw any gatherings of gays, lesbians, blacks, arabs, fat people, russians, orthodox jews with wierd hats, women with wigs, and men who wear womens panties (unless they are red with the little white hearts).

You go girl... Only keeding dude. Still, as a non gay father I am happy to see the culourful multicultrism, ethnic , religious, and sexual orientation demonstrations of deiversity in Israel or any other place. People should be happy and celebrate all other people happiness instead of squashing them like they don't exist. No one is trying to force any one to anything, just celebrate tyhe freedom of expression and freedom in general. Isn't that's what pesach is all about?

After all, Israel has a record of being very tolerant. It's widely known here that a homosexual even made it to the highest ranks of the IDF.

Actually Yacov the reason we march in Jerusalem is that like any other group in Israel we are entitled to march in the capital of our country. FYI there is a march in the vatican and FYI the reason there is no march in Mecca is because of the fanatical religious in that country deny gay people not only to be open but also to express their democratic rights! As we are still denied some basic human rights we will use our democratic right to have our voices heard.

Nowhere in the history of any of the democracies of the world is sodomy a defining characteristic or criteria for democracy.

I am not religious myself, however I feel that Jerusalem, the holiest city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam is NOT the correct place to hold a gay pride parade. Tel Aviv holds the parade every year and that is a good thing. But NO to a parade in Jerusalem. It will offend the religious and we need to respect all people of all denominations in Israel.

What is the homosexual obsession with Jerusalem? Why don't you take your march to Mecca and the Vatican?

You know very well that you could march in just about any Western city in world, including all Iraeli ones but Jerushalaim, with no problem whatsoever. People will cheer you. You know very well that the most hated and opressed group of people in Israel are the religous Jews. You have the apathetic, egoistic, individualistic, materialistic majority behind you. Nor because they like you but because they hate us. And you happily join the haters. I would never dream of marching against homosexuality in TA or Sanfran. I believe in Live and let live as much as you believe that your choice of lifestyle is not a choice. By marching in Jerusalem you are preaching intolerance, nothing but. Sholem aleichem ach?.

democracy is based on respect. Freedom does not allow you to insult people. Sodom is still at the same place and they will disturb nobody there.

Hi dave, im sorry but it is irrelvant to quote verses from the bible at me if i do not accept the bible or religion. Being gay is who i am not a choice or a life style. And in a democratic society we are still denied basic human rights. Every group has the right to be heard while acitng in the boundaries of the law. As a gay man i have many religious friends and employees and accept and respect them as human beings even though i do not agree with their beliefs. Where was the voice of the religious leaders when President Katsave was raping and sexually molesting women inthe presidential residence in Jerusalem? It seem hypocracy is alive and thriving.

Where are all the Israel bashers? If Israel is such a backwards state and culture, why don't you ask why there is no talk of Gay Pride parades in the countries I mentioned? Where is Mark Lincoln or Clickfool, can you guys explain why there is never protests or talks of gay pride parades in Lebanon or Syria for example? For a "racist", "aparthied state", I think Israel is well progressive don't you think if gay groups are not scared to demand parades and have them yearly??? I wonder when will Palestinians hold their gay parades, or is it Israel's fault too that they dont??

The ultra-orthodox can't stand a gay pride parade, and the Islamic Movement wants to stone lesbians. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/835469.html Looks like there really is common ground between Israel and the Palestinians. At least between the religious nut cases on both sides. Stone them for Yahweh! Stone them for Allah! This is what Judaism and Islam are really about. And bring in Rev. Dobson and the Christian Zionists while we're at it. Israel can have a truly monotheistic pogrom of gays and lesbians. As scripture demands!

If you dislike Gay Pride parades so much, why do you attend them?

Why can't these people just leave us alone and be satisfies with their lives? Why do they always have to shove their abominable lifestyles in front of our noses? They should just do what they please in their own homes and leave us out of it. They should lead their faggot lives without the rest of us normal people.

gays only march in Jerusalem to make conflict and headlines, they could not give a damn about rights or acceptance. they could march in Tel Aviv every week and nobody would give a damn, that's why they only want to be in Jerusalem. Israel is a very accepting country, and the same gays who don't accept the orthodox lifestyle concentrated in Jerusalem, then expect them to embrace the gays? give us a break, and take this pink circus of yours to a city that gives a damn, instead of alienated your minority further by continuing to provoke all non-gay people. I have no problems with gays accept when they shove their cause in my face, and that would be true of ANY minority cause.

Don't forget the rule of Law, which is fundamental to the Israel of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob! Be sure and check THE Law about this!!

Hey Tal...i am with you and very well said, but please try to deal with these extreme gay left wingers (i hope you are not one of them) They will sell Israel for their belief in Palestine and if they ever got their wish, they would be killed by them.

I think some people use religion as an excuse for their own warped hatred and you should look down on them for the vile people they are. I wish you and your partner well and I hope the march goes ahead with goodwill and lots of support. :-)

every year until we receive our equality. Having said that, I will put my energies to deal with hate from the jewish community here in Toronto. When i was in Israel for world pride last August, many i met were these young far left jews (and others) who were more interested in the Palestinian agenda, and getting Israel out of Lebanon than human rights for all people in Israel. It was a disgusting spectacle, considering we all know that it was Hizbullah that started the war. IF these jews are sooo interested in the Palestinian cause, then they should go have their rally in Ramallah

I have attended about a dozen of these so-called "Gay Pride" parades. They are vile and full of sexually perverted, religiously hostile displays. In the ones in Los Angeles, NAMBLA (North American Man-Boy "Love" Association - a pedophile group) proudly marched down our streets. LEGALLY! There was the Dikes on Bikes, S&M groups wearing chains and carrying whips and, the ultimate crowd pleaser, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgences - men dressed as nuns that ever so often, lifted their skirts to show pallic apparati "pop up". G-d help the people of Yerushalayim stem this tide of perversion!

Unlike Saudi-Arabia or the Vatican, Israel is a Democracy, not a Yheocracy! Both Gays and Ultra-Orthodox should have freedom of expression!

"Why should gay people be proud to be gay... Proud to be German, proud to be a man, proud to be black, proud to be 1.85 meter tall ..." I am proud to be Israeli. I am proud to be a woman. I am proud to be olive colored. I am proud to be 1.56 meters tall or short. Why not. These things represent me. And, I am proud to be gay. I used to be ashamed to be short, even though there was nothing I could do about it. I don't need to have a parade to celebrate how proud I am too be short. Mainly because I've gotten over the shame. Not so much discrimination in that, except in grocery stores and the like. But I do want to have a parade to celebrate and demand the freedom to be gay. Because while that part of me is no longer repressed, it is still oppressed.

We gays do not appreciate the presence of the religious right in the many gayborhoods that exist through the world, and I can asure you readers that our presence in a religious and orthodox community is not welcomed either. we demand respect from these individuals yet we fail to show them respect. we cry out that they are intoleranct, yet the gay community as a whole is intolerant to their ideals just aswell. the gay community needs to move away from this city. we are entit]ed to live our lives as we please, but we do not have to push it down the throats of Jerusalems residents.

I am myself gay, and come from a religious family. Understanding the santicty of Jerusalem to religious Jews, not to mention Christians and Muslims, it would only be a sign of disrespect towards Israels religious community if this parade is held in Jerusalem. There are many other cities we can hold this function in. This is already pothetic.

I know many gay people. While I think that they have every right to participate in whatever actions they choose (as long as they do not infringe upon my right to refrain personally). However, I think that "having a parade" is ridiculous. I don't want a parade for people who wear black knitted kippot with navy and maroon on the edges, or for Jews with wavy hair, so why for people who are gay? Accept yourself and move into some sort of normative "I live my life the way I want and don't feel the need to always seek validation", and others will leave well enough alone. You don't see chilonim marching through Yerushalayim on Shabbos eating bacon, but we also don't have massive responses to chilonim being able to do what they want. Wanting to have a parade to celebrate an aveirah in a city with many datiim and chareidim will cause a stir. While some may genuinely hate gay people and wish harm on them, this is not something that I support. Gay people are people, but halacha is halacha.

Tal, as a fellow Jew we love you. But you know your actions are expressly prohibited by the Torah. With the grave admonition of "abomination." It's kind of disingenuous, isn't it, for you to pretend that law doesn't exist for us?

Hold your parade in your own capital city, not ours. Our capital city of Jerusalem is not to be defiled by your sexual perversion and immorality.

G-d destroyed Sodom and the Sodomites once already. The modern-day Sodomites apparently want to ensure their own safety by bringing Sodom to Jerusalem, figuring that G-d won't destroy his own Holy City even if it is infested with Sodomites. Better figure again. G-d has already destroyed Jerusalem when Israelites failed to protect her from defilement and degradation. Will Israelites protect Jerusalem any better than we did in the past from defilement and degradation by modern-day Sodomites?

As a gay man in a loving 10 year relationship i am still denied some basic human rights because of my sexuality. How many gay people do you actually know? What gives you the right to insite hatred and violence because i am different than you? Im sorry if it offends you that i go to the army to defend you, im sorry if my partner is a surgeon and works 24 hours a day to heal you when you are sick. Im sorry if it offends you that i pay taxes and to support your schools. Im sorry that your husbands are cheating on you. However i take comfort that my religious beliefs has not made me full of hatred towards my fellow human beings that i no longer see clearly. for you my friends are the ones that need help. Your hatred only encourages us to march and each year we will become louder and louder untill we are heard.

Is persistance going to make this parade happen? I hope and pray that it don't. We sometimes fail to realize that even though man continues to approve things that have now become commonplace throughout the global community, It is still wrong in G-d's eyes. God has not and will not change. Whether a person is liberal or conservative in their ways is not the issue, but morality is the issue. This world is falling fast in moral deprivation and wants to take everyone along the way with them. Stand Up and Stand Fast to Morality and Truth.

This is pathetic. Imagine all the minorities holding parades: the blacks, the handicapped, the one-eyed, the red haired, the midgets, etcetera etcetera. Why should gay people be proud to be gay? Proud to be German, proud to be a man, proud to be black, proud to be 1.85 meter tall ... Stop discriminating yourself, gay community and behave as if you have accepted yourself. And please, stop imposing your 'normality' on the rest of the world.

I am sure Abbas would not refuse if he gets decent letter with explanation the issue is of Human Rights and being heard and seen. The problem is safety and the fence. Thus, might good idea to see. It could combine not just gays but also peace activists from whole World. Mecca is too hot but Saudis could help financial if we all go to Ramallah

oh how the perverts love to twist the truth.G-D is the author of laws that govern the universe.G-ds opinion of the men of sodom was that they were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly genesis 13:13 before He destroyed it verse 10.if the new converts to this lifestyle keep on tweeking G-Ds nose the end results should not be expected to be any different than the example set of sodoms demise.

oh nooo, not again.....

No way. Don't pollute Yerushaliem Ir HaKodesh. Go hold your gay/queer spectacle somewhere else, like Ramalla, Mecca or in the Vatican, just not in Israel.