You're in a democracy now, it's about time you adjusted your mindset. Here, "respect for tradition" is not a valid reason for silencing freedom of expression and denying people the right to assemble as they please for a peaceful demonstration.

Gay Pride parades may be legal, however the question of wether such a parade in Jerusalem is the right thing is the issue. What is legal is not always the right thing. Possibly an accomodation may be found with Tel Aviv being selected as the more appropriate site, possible with city supported enhancements and facilitation of the event. Sensibilities of those who would be offended by the parade are assuaged and those parading have a more salubrious situs for their strut. Oh my. I sound "reasonable". Help!

What does Stalin's Russia have to do with this. Name you favorite democracy and you'll find that you have to have permission to hold a march and the public has the right to say when and where that march can take place. The homos are looking for a confrontation and I doubt the tax payers are willing to pay for the extra security. Why don't you respect that not everyone cares what you do in the privacy of your own home. What's offensive is how you want to push in everyone's face.

Oh, Arcadi. Your house is pure glass, and all you have are stones. If you really want us to believe this is important to you, you have a LOT of work to with your own countrymen here.

We're waiting. Go back to Volodya, thug.

He should be the next president of the US, or at least the prime minister of Israel. Someone with rational thinking instead of politically correct dogma is much better qualified to be a real leader.

The man has no morals and thinks he can buy anything he wants - which is why he probably feels comfortable running for mayor - it's a license to commit all sorts of devious acts. Gay-damak will never be mayor, not of Jerusalem or anywhere else. He's a crook and a homophobe and this is 2008 – GET A LIFE!!

belongs to every Jew. And every Jew has the right to march there, for whatever reason.. End of story.

Thank you, Mr. Gaydamak, for this clear stand you take! It is very wise that you argue with the inner values which are entrusted to Jerusalem. They indeed may never be compomised, even not in a democracy.

sounds like Gydamark is fishing for votes and why not attack Israels gay population as he knows only to well that unlike the ultra orthadox they are non confrontational and will not organize a violent protest. Strange how he finds a group of well behaved individuals modestly dressed marching for their democratic rights a threat when the ultra orthodox are breaking in to a single womens apartment and beating her senseless in the name of morality. Jerusalem is the democratic capital of Israel and no one group within the boundaries of the law can deny another group its democratic rights based on a religious superstition.

Thank you, Thomas of #3, for summarizing what most believe. We don't wish to be subjected to a display of others perversions, nor do we wish our children and grandchildren to be subjected to the same. Jerusalem is deemed a holy city by a greater chunk of humanity than those who would defile her by parading their sins. You speak of "democracy". The politicians have permitted this in the past due to politics (ie money and influence) - not because it is the desire of the majority. Leaving the secular

and just remind us all Thomas where you live? are you an israeli tax payer, do you serve in the IDF? as usual no answer from you as you just prefer to spread your usual homophobic lies. i have never read such a bunch of ill informed lies as your posting, you need help. At least show some intelligence. Talking of tax money, how strange you do`nt mention the cost to the tax payer last week when the ultra orthodox rioted as a member of their morality squad was arrested for breaking in to a divorced womans apartment and beating her senseless? We will march next year and every year untill we get our rights , shove it in your face , oh if only i had the chance tom boy.

#3 Writes "What does Stalin's Russia have to do with this. " This is a comment befitting Stalin's Russia, not a modern liberal democracy. Views which are not necessarily the mainstream position can be voiced here, unlike in a totalitarian state where speech and expression are closely monitored and restricted. "Name you favorite democracy and you'll find that you have to have permission to hold a march and the public has the right to say when and where that march can take place." That's utterly ridiculous - Nazis can march in the United States as long as they have a permit, with or without the approval of the local residents of the area where the march is being held. The same is true for everything between and including communists and fascists in most of Europe. Freedom of speech is not designed to protect the majority viewpoint - indeed, if it were, it would be utterly redundant. The right to free speech is designed to protect EXACTLY this sort of controversial issue which might not be the majority view. That doesn't give you, or the rest of Jerusalem's public for that matter, the right to silence them. The fact you aren't aware of this most basic democratic principle is deeply concerning - to me it indicates you wouldn't know democracy if it bit you in the nose. "The homos are looking for a confrontation and I doubt the tax payers are willing to pay for the extra security. Why don't you respect that not everyone cares what you do in the privacy of your own home. What's offensive is how you want to push in everyone's face. " I'm happily married, with children, and not attracted to men in the slightest. The assertion that because I support the democratic right of all individuals to speak and assemble freely somehow makes me gay (or even supportive of their lifestyle choice) is completely fallacious, unfounded, and ridiculous. As for the extra costs of security, democracy isn't cheap. But I, as a taxpayer, am willing to pay to maintain our democratic rights. ____________________________ #11 Writes: "We don't wish to be subjected to a display of others perversions, nor do we wish our children and grandchildren to be subjected to the same. Jerusalem is deemed a holy city by a greater chunk of humanity than those who would defile her by parading their sins." This is a perfectly legitimate desire on your part. You find homosexuality morally abhorrent, and that's fine by me. What isn't fine by me (or by democratic values) is your attempt to turn that personal moral view into a justification for the subversion of the democratic rights of other citizens of the state. "You speak of "democracy". The politicians have permitted this in the past due to politics (ie money and influence) - not because it is the desire of the majority. " Again, the right to free speech was not born to protect uncontroversial views already held by the majority, else it would be an utterly redundant right. It was created in order to ensure that minorities and minority views are not suppressed by people much like yourself. Again, you wouldn't know democracy if it bit you in the nose.

Gadymak shows that he is a man of principles and actions. This is what leadership is all about. He has what it takes to be a true leader.

Porush may be the next mayor, but Gaydamak has principles and my respect. Lopiansky is a religious sell out. He let the perverts have their parade.

mr. gaydamak I agree that beautiful Jerusalem need not witness the pranks of the homosexuals - why are they parading ? As to those TB's that speak of silencing freedom of expression, they can speak but need not parade their disability. As far as I am concerned, they are a weird bunch.

My vote goes to Gaydemak--he talks staright and put's his money where his mouth is--this is the type of candidate we need.

The point is that throughout generations, even when the gay culture was not openly displayed as it is today, certain percentage of EVERY generation happened to be homosexual or at least bi-sexual. Keeping your kids in "safe" of the "evil" influence of the distorted people will not save them If one of your children or grandchildren is gay he/she was it already at the moment of the birth and you can't fight it, only accept or deny, which would be your own problem.

but that doesn't stop me from holding hands with my boyfriend, kissing my boyfriend, and walking the streets of jerusalem with my children. i don't need a parade to be who i am. i am my own parade.

Please Holy God, do not allow this parade to happen in Your City.

Good for you Gaydamak ! We should not be like the west and countenance voluntary perverts to display their "in your face" filth

I guess money can buy you into anything! Whats even funnier, is that he isnt even religious, and is obviously using this platform to try and fool people into voting for him. Gaydamak is wanted for arms sales to Angola. Its ridiculous that he is trying to be mayor of Jerusalem. I say, have the gay parade in Jerusalem and let him die!

Ynet showed the pictures of the gay march in Tel-Aviv. The men were wearing mini-skirts. Who are you kidding?

Right on the money #11. So nice to see "someone" take a stand against special interest groups like those who want to snub God's Holy City with their twisted ideology by marching a parade up and down it's streets. I hope he becomes mayor.

If by chance this post is allowed on this forum I applaud #3 for standing up for a "true" democracy. The Holy Bible is very plain about homosexuality being a sin. No Bible knowledge or cross referencing is necessary. As a Christian I abhore the homosexual lifestyle because God explicitely forbid's it. Like #3, what you do in your own home is your business and none of mine. I am not "FORCING" my Christian lifestyle on you. I offer it, but not by FORCE. You (homosexuals) on the other hand are forcing your lifestyle on us here in America and now in the Holy state of Israel and Jerusalem. PLEASE,PLEASE Israel do not let this abomination take place on the streets of Jerusalem.

The Israeli gay community has yet to campaign for gay marriage. Life partners currently get all spousal benefits, just like straight couples. There is no don't ask-don't tell policy in the military; on the contrary, the IDF was lauded by several gay magazines in the US as being possibly the most progressive military in the world on this issue. So why exactly is this parade taking place? So that you can prove that it can? But there is already an annual gay parade in Tel Aviv every year - clearly, Israel allows such parades. In contrast, any anti-pride demonstration by Haredim (I'm talking about those that don't involve burning anything or throwing veggies) were quashed. Moreover, the freedom of movement of religious people in general was automatically hampered. Some of my modern orthodox friends who wanted to watch the parade IN SUPPORT were forbidden to enter. If anything, the prevalent prejudice on display was against the religious, rather than against the homosexual. When homosexuals rally in the US, they rally for issues such as legalization of gay marriage, increase rights for life partners, etc. When homosexuals in Israel rally, it seems that they rally just so that homosexuality will become more normatively endorsed. It seems like the gay community in Israel won't be satisfied unless everyone tells you it's okay to be doing what you're doing. TOO BAD. Just as you are free to be gay, people are free to think you are wrong to be gay. ACCEPT THIS.

You yourself concede that protests require permits. Ipso facto, protests are not automatically legal. FYI, one of the huge considerations prior to allowing the Nazi parade in Skokie, IL was security considerations/ cost. It is debatable whether it would have gone ahead as planned if the ACLU hadn't made such a huge media deal of the issue. In other towns, similar rallies have been quashed. It should interest you to note, being such a champion of legally-sanctioned free speech that, while the Jlem pride parade was approved, religious counter-protests did NOT receive a permit last year. I assume that you railed against this, as well? If not, I'd be interested to know why. If it's okay for people to proclaim their gayness, isn't it okay to proclaim that they think homosexuality is a perversion. Also, a random thought, don't you think it's arguable that, in western societies, religious/conservative thinking is actually the MINORITY VIEW. once again, you should also be rallying for the haredi freedom of expression; they are certainly not the majority.

Mr GAYdamak, You'll be sorely missed.............NOT !

they need to ensure homosexuals - who pay more taxes than any Haredi - don't have a reason to feel so disenfranchised. As long as we're talking about depravity, there are long lists of behavior somehow considered "acceptable" that are far worthier of objection. You on this board just can't get past your own personal "ick" factor, and shame on you for your immaturity.

"Gaydamak for US president" just because of this? If you're so disgusted by the issue you can't think straight, you need to stear clear of any such articles or get medicated.