It does not matter whether you are religious, secular, rightist, leftist, LGBT or not - the message is a message of tolerance. "
Both the Blue and White and Meretz parties were also represented.We “need freedom, the freedom to be who we are,” Blue and White’s Eitan Ginzburg said to the Post at the march. “Equality is needed for everyone, specifically in Jerusalem.”Ginzburg, who was elected mayor of Ra’anana in 2018, is the first openly gay person to serve as a mayor in Israel.When Likud’s Amir Ohana – appointed on Wednesday as the first openly gay justice minister – walked through the crowd at Liberty Bell Park, he was met with mostly booing, and some lonely claps.The US Jerusalem Embassy also sent a delegation to the parade to show support.Parents of children who have come out the closet, allies and members of the parade all marched up Keren Hayesod Street. Their chants were more reminiscent of a political rally than most Pride parades.“Bibi, Bibi, wake up,” some chanted. “We are here to stay,” others yelled. At one instance, a delegation of religious LGBTQ Jews danced in circles as songs played about the Messiah.For some, this year’s Pride parade had special meaning, since it marked the first time that the Jerusalem march was the first Pride parade of the year in Israel, effectively launching the Pride events across the country. In addition, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York, which marked a critical point in the struggle for LGBTQ rights in the United States and across the world.Many LGBTQ Israelis are still fighting for those rights, including same-sex marriage. Gay Israelis, like heterosexual citizens, may marry outside the country and have their marriage recognized by the Ministry of the Interior. However, same-sex weddings are still prohibited in the country.Similarly, the controversial surrogacy law discriminates against gay couples and single men by denying them state-supported surrogacy. When the bill was passed last July, tens of thousands protested in Tel Aviv.We are here “to fight for our rights and equality,” Ofer Erez – the executive director of the Jerusalem Open House, which organizes the yearly parade – told the Post. “It’s important to understand that the march is a way for us to demonstrate that we have the right to march freely and happily in the street, but also every day in the streets of Jerusalem.”Erez said planning the event was complicated, and that the organization and police butted heads a few times.Most recently, the police had hoped to check everyone’s ID before they entered for security purposes. Erez argued this endangered the LGBTQ community and people’s privacy. He prevailed, with the compromise that participants were given a bracelet. The police only checked the ID of those deemed suspicious.According to Rosenfeld, 52 people were detained or arrested on suspicion that they intended to disrupt the parade. One man detained several hundred meters from the event had a knife hidden in his hat.Every year, the Open House and the police also argue about the length and venue of the parade route.“Every year, they try to convince us to march in a smaller space, not in a central [part of the] city,” Erez said. But, “part of the march is awareness. It is for people to see the march and the people.”The route has remained for the past two years, passing along Keren Hayesod Street and Agron Street.Police do not permit bystanders along the route. Two counter-demonstrations were permitted in separate locations. There were no violent incidents.Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.Over 10,000 join Jerusalem Pride march despite potential threats
52 suspects detained or arrested by police during the event.
