Court slams Lupolianski
Gays triumph over Jerusalem city hall: pride parade to go ahead, city hall to pay for celebration and fly gay flag; Mayor Lupolianski must pay NIS 30,000 from own pocket
JERUSALEM - The Jerusalem Magistrates Court ruled the municipality must allow the Gay Pride Parade to go forward as scheduled on Thursday, and ordered ultra-Orthodox Mayor Uri Lupolianski to fund part of the city's homosexual celebration out of his own pocket.
The court ruled Lupolianski must finance half of the NIS 60,000 (USD 13,800) fine leveled against city to fund the celebrations following a parade through the city's downtown district. The municipality must also fly the rainbow flag, symbol of the homosexual movement, over city hall and along the parade route.
Read Ynet's complete coverage of Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski's bid to prevent the pride parade
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Lupolianski has tried repeatedly to prevent gay pride events from taking place in the city, most recently last week. decision follows a petition submitted by Open House against city hall, which tried to prevent the event from taking place.
Respect the decision
The Jerusalem municipality spokesman responded to the decision by saying that "city hall respected the decision of the court and would follow of its instructions."
The statement went on to say that "the city's administration did not intend to attack the freedom of expression of one group or another, as argued, but feared that the event would inflame tensions and hurt the delicate ties (among various groups) in the city."
This time it's personal
Gilad Barnea, who represented Open House, said that he will make sure that the Jerusalem mayor pays the NIS 30,000 the group had to pay in legal expenses. Barnea added that Lupolianski will have his mayoral wages confiscated if he does not voluntarily pay the amount.
"I asked that Lupolianski be forced to pay out his own pocket, because he did not act like a mayor but as 'Sheriff Lupo.' He decided what threatens the peace, and that's the responsibility of the police, not him," Barnea said.
Barnea also said that he would make sure the mayor pays the legal expenses of his own "mercenaries."
