Transsexuals out of Pride Parade?

Tel Aviv's transgender community is still unsure whether it will be represented in the city's annual pride parade after its funding was pulled by a private sponsor only eight days prior to the June 10 event.

Mor Vital, who is transgender and a porn internet website owner, was set to sponsor the community's float. However, she decided to cancel the deal after learning that Tel Aviv's city council was not happy about her occupation.

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Contrary to previous pride parades, this year the Tel Aviv Municipality planned on having five floats instead of three, costing approximately NIS 80,000 (over $23,000). The parade is being funded by businesses affiliated with the gay community that were picked through a tender. 

Vital placed a bid to fund the event, but organizers recently learned that she is the owner of a porn site.

They consulted the city's legal adviser, attorney Uzi Salman, who said there was no law prohibiting the city from doing business with Vital.

However, he added that it is "inappropriate" for a municipality be connected to the porn industry.

Gay Parade in Tel Aviv 2010 (Photo: Yaron Brener)

After learning about the city's appeal to a legal consultant, Vital chose to remove her candidacy for the bid.

"Our website is partly communal. The fact that it has adult content doesn't mean anything. The age limit to enter the site is over 18. Up until a few days ago the municipality approved my candidacy. There are floats for gays and lesbians, so why not have one for transsexuals? Not all of them work as prostitutes," Vital told Ynet.

'Tried to torpedo the float'

In response, the Tel Aviv city council said that "a legal opinion has been given but the administrative decision is up to Yaniv Weizman, the council member and adviser to Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Ron Huldai on gay affairs. Either way, Mor Vital's team announced it has decided, for its own reasons, to remove its candidacy to operate a float during the parade."

Tel Aviv city councilman Yoav Goldring is still trying to get Vital to fund the float.

"I'm very sorry that city council officials tried to torpedo the transgender float… The legal council completely overstepped its authority… The transgender community is a prominent and important community and it should be represented in the Tel Aviv Pride Parade," he said.

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