IN PHOTOS: Thousands March in Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade
Over 25,000 take to the capital to show their true colors and love for Israel's LGBTQ community, despite massive security following last year's murder.
Amid heavy security, around 25,000 people gathered in Jerusalem for the 15th annual gay pride parade on Thursday. Many came bearing flowers, which they placed in front of a memorial for Shira Banki, the 16-year-old stabbed to death at last year's parade by Yishai Schlissel, an ultra-Orthodox Jew who is serving a life sentence for her murder.
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The march, far more somber than the boisterous Tel Aviv parade in June, highlighted the challenges the LGBT community in Israel has faced in recent years.
A number of politicians were in attendance, including opposition leader and Zionist Union chairman Isaac Herzog, who arrived with a flower in Banki's honor. Secular and religious Israelis alike came together to celebrate and show that like the parade's slogan, they too are here to stay.
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