when homos fart loudly the civilization that they represent is over

Mark... just wanted to let you know that I am an Evangelical Christian (though not what one would call in especially good standing), and I am so glad you did not commit suicide. My wife worked as a nurse for a number of years on a predominantly AIDS unit at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles...she said that her 'gay' patients were often some of the 'nicest' individuals. I have equal respect for you as a gay person as I have for any straight person. In God's eyes "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". We are all in need of salvation. I have never walked in your shoes, and I can't imagine for myself being able to choose my sexual preferances. As such I personally think that homosexuals have one of the hardest "crosses to bear" that there is. It is a mystery of life why some have thing so easy and others from the start have the cards dealt against them...it isn't fair. Never the less, that is life. Christian Scripture says "run with perseverance the race marked out for you", and "take up your cross daily and follow me". You my friend have had a heavy cross to bear, one I wouldn't wish on anyone. Just know that true Christians don't hate you. But neither can a true Christian ignore the very plain teaching of Scripture re. homosexuality. If God says it is wrong, an abomination, then it is a sin which should be repented of....definately not flaunted!! Like it or not, 'gay' activism is associated with promiscuity and a licentuous lifestyle which generally runs in opposition to the morality taught in Scripture. For whatever reason, the gay lifestyle invariably seems to manifest itself in extremes...an "in your face" gay activism. This blatant 'in your face' flaunting is what gay parades are all about...and why their is such opposition. Jerusalem is a most inappropriate location, no doubt chosen by the gay activists intentionally for effect.

"Some of us are ultra-Orthodox. Some of us are religious. Others are traditional Jews. Some of us are not. We all know the Torah, we know we were all created in God's image." The mistake that homosexuals make is to believe God created them that way because they have always felt gay tendancies. That's not true. NONE of us have always felt any sexual tendancies. We "came of age" and STARTED to feel sexual tendancies as we developed. While the following may not be true for all gay people, it has been true for every gay friend that I have had: They had a very bad relationship with a same-sex parent OR they were molested or raped by a pedophile, usually a relative, often a parent. Homesexuality is an identity disorder that manifests as soon as our sexual identity manifests. NO ONE is born with sexual feelings. Our sexual identity is shaped at a very deep level, starting at a very early age. It's not just our wiring; it's also our experiences. It has nothing to do with being made in the image of God, but everything to do with being seriously wounded at a very young age.

Yes.

I think that you shouldn't have a lot of courage to say you're gay - you should just say it. Although in many cases gay people are being frowned upon - in many cases it depends on the person himself. If you don't hide but also don't demonstrate it - basically, act as anyone else, when people will find out you are gay it won't really matter for them (well, depending on your looks it might matter to the girls :) ). In any case, I think that if a person is gay, he or she should not be afraid to say it if asked or hide it. Absolutely not. But making such parade in Jerusalem, will bring a negative effect from the religious side of the people. If an orthodox man will see a homosexual boy or a girl in Jerusalem, his first thought won't be "I dislike him, because he's gay", but "I dislike him, because he shows off in the place that is sacred to me, and shows my children something I don't want to be shown to them" (remember that Judaism prohibits homosexualism). So my point is, if homosexuals want to be gay - it's okay, and they shouldn't hide it. But parading in J'lem in such controversial circumstances will be hurtful for gay community in Jerusalem. Also, Mrs. Raz says that orthodox people are a part of the community. It's okay (although technically, they're not orthodox). However, imagine yourself a orthodox youth. He or she is gay. But after each such parade all she hears from all over her religious community is that this is bad - and hears even hatred from many. He/She will be afraid to "come out of the closet" and it might bring many effects already discribed in these talkbacks - like depression and even suicide.

Jesus was Gay. look at John 3:18, Matt 5:3, Luke 12:32 just to name a few. If you have problems with Gays then you have problems with Jesus. We are Jesus's "SPECIAL PEOPLE"

Are there happy gays?

Enuf already..u have done the gay parade to death..i think it has had more coverage than the so called "not" war that we recently experienced in the north. To hell with the gays, to each his own perversion, just please keep it indoors and not on the street.

In a liberal democracy, everyone can reasonably expect that their lawful behaviour be tolerated by all. When that behaviour is deeply offensive to the beliefs of very many people it would be considerate of them not to parade it for public acclaim. How would homosexuals like it if the religious establishment were to call for a mass rally and public protests to denounce their behaviour? As unsympathetic as I am to this cause, I can still see that it fulfills a need for self-expression. Perhaps people who have this need could choose to express themselves in a place that does not bring them into direct confrontation with others with opposing sensitivities?

Please organise a Gay Pride also in Arab Jerusalem and in other Arab cities. We gay Palestinians participate also in the Open House and the emphasize should be more about Homphobia in Arab society. My dream: Gay pride in Ramallah or even Mekka!

Lee, I think it's just that in social change generally Israel is a few years behind the USA and UK, so things tend to happen later in Israel. In the UK we had a similar obsession with all things gay some years ago, but that obsession has now largely finished. It's a phase that Israel is passing through, hence the current media fuss, added to which is the religious aspect of how homosexuality fits in with Judaism.

HOMOSEXUALS HAVE TO LEARN THE PROPER USE OF THE DIFFERT PARTS OF THE BODY.

...and they , nodoubt, are praying for you and your affliction !

The comments in many of these talkbacks provides the answer. Cotrary to what many here have said they are not having sex in public. Frankly if people want to believe in a literal interpretation of Torah it is their right...or plight..depending on ones perspective. If you feel so bound to Hashem then that should be your own personal voyage. In most western countries you would be brought before a court of law for inciting hatred. Civilized nations do not consider G-d as a pretext for hating your fellow man. Heterosexuals do not parade around because as the majority of the population they do not face the hate filled religious recriminations that gay people do on a daily basis. Those of you who chastise your fellow man with vile and odious comments are in no position to say their behaviour is immoral. The G-d you are referring to was made in man's image and not One I know.

First of all, Toda Rabba to Noa for an excellent article. Now as to why there have to be Gay Parades: We parade because so many of you think that being gay is just about sex and should be left at home. We parade because every day we see staight people parading their sexual orientation and not even realizing it. We parade because we are citizens too, in Jerusalem because we are Jews too, and we share in the promise to our father Avraham We parade to cement the strength of our community. We parade for those who cannot yet parade. We parade so that we may enter a New Year in honesty and truth, in honor and in love. We parade so that your children will not be driven to despair and G-d forbid suicide, because of the lies you have taught them. We parade because it is the time for honesty so that we may be forgiven the khetim of hiding who we are from our fellow humans and for failing to thank the Holy One for the gift of our ability to love each other.

You have already had your parade in Jerusalem the Jewish Holy City. This year why don't you take your Parade into Meca the Muslim holy city. Next year you should parade in the Vatican the Christian holy city. Don't be shy they might love it.

Thanks for your lovely piece about holding this important march for tolerance in Jerusalem. We're sorry that it couldn't happen during WorldPride, but thousands more will be there with you in spirit from around the world.