Gay pride parade (Archive photo)
Open House: We'll stand up for right to hold gay parade
Representatives of Open House in Jerusalem for Pride and Tolerance, organizers of next month's gay pride parade in Jerusalem, meet with minister for Jerusalem affairs to discuss holding of parade
Representatives of the organization supporting gay rights and tolerance, The Open House in Jerusalem for Pride and Tolerance, met with Minister for Jerusalem Affairs MK Jacob Edery (Kadima) Wednesday afternoon, the organization told Ynet.
In the meeting with the MK, the Open House representatives – the incoming Director-general Noa Satat, outgoing Director-general Hagai Elad, and acting Chairman Elena Kant - made it clear that the Gay Pride and Tolerance Parade will be held on September 21 in Jerusalem as planned. The parade was scheduled to be held in August, but was postponed because of the war.
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The representatives emphasized the importance of holding such a parade as part of the ongoing struggle of the gay community in Jerusalem for pluralism and tolerance. According to Noa Satat, "Especially in an environment of intolerance and incitement, such as the one the community suffers from in Jerusalem, it is important not to cave in and to fight for our freedom of speech, equality and rights."
The Open House representatives discussed with Minister Edery the ways in which he can act as a mitigating factor and help the Haredi community come to terms with the parade. In response to the police's announcement in the media that the parade will not be authorized, the representatives declared that the moment they receive an official response from the police, they will consider using legal means.
Last May, Jerusalem District Court ruled that the municipality is obligated to divide public resources equally among all the sectors in the city.
