Members of gay and lesbian community say fact pride parade was successfully held in capital despite protests and petitions against it, represents great achievement
Following the successful, and relatively peaceful pride parade Thursday, members of the gay and lesbian community pledged to hold the same parade in the capital next year as well.
Marching Through
Thousands attend pride parade / Aviram Zino
Despite violent protests and petitions, gay pride parade held in Jerusalem as planned. Some 2,000 participants, secured by 7,000 policemen, march through capital's streets for tolerance and promotion of community's rights
"This is a great victory for the community," said chairman of the Open House Noa Satat. "We wanted to march at the heart of Jerusalem, and I'm very glad we did it… the community members' turnout and the fact that the parade went through quietly and without any casualties is very impressive and encouraging."
Satat said that she appreciated the efforts put forth by the police to secure the marchers, but stated that in the end – this was the police's duty. "I wish to thank all the policemen and policewomen who came and did an excellent job and succeeded in securing the event.
"I think that the police were very concerned about the pride parade in Jerusalem, and therefore our relations with them became quite tense. The district chief is not doing the community a favor by securing the parade, but I can definitely appreciate this where the pride parade is concerned."
Saar Netanel, a Jerusalem City Council member and a prominent gay community leader, was also happy with the parade's outcome. "I think we won, for me this is a victory. We marched in the center of Jerusalem, and our pride flags, which represent tolerance and equality, were flown through the streets, despite the mayor's discontent and his attempt to sabotage the parade," he said.
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