Hundreds attend Eilat Pride Parade

Southern city launches first event in month dedicated to LGBT community. As opposed to previous years, parade ends peacefully despite opposition voiced by city activists

Meir Ohayon |Published: 05.24.13 , 21:02

Hundreds of Eilat residents and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from across Israel participated Friday in the annual pride parade, which made its way through the southern city's main street.

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Due to the hot weather, the number of participants was relatively small compared to past parades in the city, but those who chose to leave their air conditioner behind appeared enthusiastic nonetheless.

The celebrations are set to continue Friday evening and Saturday.

(צילום: מאיר אוחיון)

(Photo: Meir Ohayon)

(צילום: מאיר אוחיון)

(Photo: Meir Ohayon)

(צילום: מאיר אוחיון)

(Photo: Meir Ohayon)

Some 300 people gathered Friday morning at the starting point of the parade, which is taking place in Eilat for the 12th time, and marched to the Maman Beach.

As opposed to previous years, the parade ended relatively peacefully despite opposition voiced by some of the city's activists. Right-wing activist Moshe Ben Zikri, who heads the Jewish Eilat faction, sent a letter to Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevi, demanding that the Municipality cancel its participation in the event. The demand was ignored.

Israel's LGBT community has been marking the Pride Month around June with parades and large public events across the country, for the past 15 years. The Eilat parade is the first in a long series of events scheduled to take place in Israel's major cities, including the country's biggest pride parade which will be held in Tel Aviv on June 7.

The evens will conclude with the Jerusalem Pride Parade, which has been held in recent years in late July to mark the anniversary of the 2009 Tel Aviv gay center shooting.