Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade draws 250,000 participants
Procession comprised of floats and pedestrians is the 21st edition, and included new UK envoy Neil Wigan on his first day in the job
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai led about 250,000 revelers participating in his city’s annual gay Pride Parade procession, which is the largest in the Middle East.
“I promise you we will not relent and continue to fight until we see full equality in the State of Israel,” said Huladi, a reserves fighter pilot for the Israel Air Force and longtime ally of the LGBTQ community in Israel, said during his speech Friday.
He ended his speech at Bnei Zion Avenue in the city’s south with the words “chag semeach,” meaning “happy holiday” and commonly used on Jewish religious holidays.
The procession, comprising floats and pedestrians, many wearing little more than adhesive glitter and body paint, is the 21st edition of Tel Aviv Pride and one of the largest yet in terms of participation, Ynet reported.
Amir Ohana, Israel’s newly-appointed justice minister, the first cabinet minister who is openly gay in Israel, also attended the march with his life partner.
After the participants reached Charles Clore Park, thousands proceeded to the beach, where Gay Pride celebrations typically continue into the night.
On his second day in Israel, and first full day in office, new Ambassador from the UK, Neil Wigan, tweeted a picture of himself at the parade.
He participated alongside around 30 staff members, some marching and some more on the embassy’s float, which reads ‘Love is Great Britain’, and is shaped like a London bus.
He told Jewish News: ‘It was fantastic to spend my first day in Israel celebrating shared values of diversity and inclusion. And having a lot of fun!”
First day in the office with @ukinisrael #Pride2019 pic.twitter.com/tjWiMjdUGp
— Neil Wigan (@FCONeilWigan) June 14, 2019
The Jewish Leadership Council tweeted that its Scotland manager, Danielle Bett, attended and “loved celebrating #pride in Tel Aviv this week!”
The JLC said: “The city is full of colour in celebration of love + equality. We’re proud to work with organisations like @KeshetUK who work to ensure no one has to choose between their LGBT & Jewish identity.”
There were also protests against claims of ‘pinkwashing’, with demonstrators accusing Israel of covering up for alleged human rights abuses with support for the LGBT community.
Below, two demonstrators hold up a sign saying ‘queers against pinkwashing’.
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