Rishon gay parade faces opposition

First gay pride parade in Rishon Lezion faces opposition from municipality member who claims event is 'not educational'

Reuters | Published: 05.05.10, 20:55

The battle over the pride parade: Members of the LGBT community in Rishon Lezion were given a police permit to hold a gay pride parade in the city. However, some at the city municipality are not happy with the decision and say they will try to stop the event from taking place.

Event initiator Nir Bareli, who is also an activist in the city's gay and Lesbian community said he and his friends asked the municipality to allocate a budget for the parade, but were ignored.

"We came to speak with the municipality members after their board meeting, but they avoided us and said they have yet to reach a decision in the subject.

"We are asking the municipality to help us fund the event, just like it does with any other group in the community. We think we deserve a budget. We are holding the parade in order to root out violence in general, and specifically against our community members," Bareli said.

According to the LGBT community members, the only assistance they receive from the municipality is the allocation of a space where they meet once a week. "We thought it would be really nice if there is a gay center in Rishon Lezion, just like the one in Tel Aviv," Bareli noted.

Bareli added that other than these meetings, the municipality was not doing anything for the community. "We want to change the situation and that's part of the reason we're holding the parade. We are not asking for a huge center like the one in Tel Aviv, but for the most basic things. I hope that by holding the parade we are making a small step ahead of a big change," he added.

Municipality member Shmuel Jameel, who is heading the campaign against the parade, addressed the municipality directorate and demanded that its members object to holding the event.

"Most members of the directorate oppose the parade. It is not educational and unacceptable – not only for religious reasons, but also for social and educational reasons. Such a thing cannot be done in public," Jameel added.

Message of co-existence

Bareli heard of Jamil's objections and tried to reason with him. "I tried to talk to him and understand why he opposes the parade, but he avoided me and ran down the stairs. We are proud of who we are and will hold the parade despite the objections," he said.

The event organizers said the parade will not have a provocative nature, but rather will focus on politics.

Municipality member Raz Kinstelich submitted a proposal to adopt a similar model to that of the Tel Aviv municipality, which is involved in organizing the annual gay parade in the city.

"I believe adopting the Tel Aviv model is an unequivocal statement that will show the Rishon Lezion municipality is willing to accept those who are different and allows each of its residents to express themselves," said Kinstelich.

According to him, holding the parade sends out an important message, both of coexistence and of objection to violence at large.

The municipality said in response that "every request to hold a parade or procession will be examined according to administrative considerations and without discrimination."