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This week, LGBT community and our supporters will again struggle for our freedom of expression and civil rights in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem March for Pride and Tolerance is a personal, social and community effort aimed at creating a more tolerant society where all people are accepted and respected for who they are. By creating a public space for members of the LGBT community and its allies, Jerusalem Pride aims to enable Jerusalemites at different stages of the coming-out process to find a meaningful existence in the Holy City.
In Jerusalem homophobia is an unquestionable fact of life in many communities. Pride questions the abuse of "religious" values used to justify discrimination and brings the struggle for universal humanism to the front.
Last November´s violent and intimidating events only served as proof that we must assure our rights as citizens of Jerusalem. This summer as in past years, all Jerusalemites who value their freedom will march with us in downtown Jerusalem. Our community will take to the streets with Pride and bring tolerance to Jerusalem. This summer's march will put Jerusalem, Israel and our leaders to the true test of democracy and civil rights. We will not let the threats of violence silence us or challenge Israeli democracy. This historic battle on the forefront of human rights in Jerusalem has already met with considerable challenges in past year and this year has not been easier.
After submitting a formal request to hold the Jerusalem Pride and Tolerance March to the Jerusalem Police, in February 2007, the Jerusalem Open House nervously awaited the response. We received a letter from Israeli police a few weeks ago, granting preliminary permission to hold the annual LGBT pride march in Jerusalem on June 21st, 2007.
"Let there be no doubt: the police department is fully obligated by the high court ruling" said Jerusalem District Police commander, Major-General Ilan Franco in the letter.
Noa Sattat, Executive Director of the Jerusalem Open House, said at that time that "the letter proves that all parties have learned their lesson from last year's events, realizing that protecting the rule of law is in everyone's best interest"
Two weeks ago, Israel witnessed a surprising and frightening development when members of the Knesset (MKs) backed a bill that would allow the Jerusalem City Council (controlled by Ultra-Orthodox representatives) to ban any parade in Jerusalem that they feel offends religious sensitivities. 40 members of the Knesset have backed the bill, some, unfortunately, from the Kadima party. Heads of the Labor party did not publicly oppose the bill. MKs haven't realized, apparently, that such bill would deprive Israel's capital of a pluralistic, democratic future.
In response to the Knesset vote on June 6th in support of the first reading of a proposed law against parades and marches in Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Open House promoted a petition against the law, and in favor of freedom of speech and democracy in Jerusalem. We received overwhelming responses from all over the world to the petition. Hundreds of people signed the petition and on Friday, June 8th, it was printed with 40 prominent signatures in Haaretz Newspaper. The signatures included professors, doctors, lawyers, rabbis, politicians and leaders of NGOs from Europe, North America and Israel. To read and sign the petition go to http://212.199.222.97/minisite/gaava/.
Last week, leaders of the Jerusalem Ultra-Orthodox community, declared that every method of fighting the march is legitimate, thus subtly condoning violence against the LGBT community. The violence reported so far this year includes: threatening phone calls in the middle of the night to homes of board and staff members of the Jerusalem Open House, a traditional Jewish death curse (pulsa de'nura) intended to threaten the march organizers, a bomb against the march that exploded in April 2007, and now, threats of riots all over the city.
To read more click here (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3410991,00.html ).
Despite the threats, we continue with the hectic preparations for the march. "We march in Jerusalem which is our city in order to voice the values of our community: equality, dignity and freedom of speech. The threats against us only highlight the importance of our struggle" said Noa Sattat, executive director of the Jerusalem Open House, "The forces working against us want us back in the closet. This is a test to the fragile Israeli democracy, specifically after the Knesset supported the outrageous bill last week, undermining freedom of expression and the right to assemble in Israel's capital. "
Late last week the Jerusalem District Police issued a final approval of the Jerusalem March for Pride and Tolerance. We will take to the streets in just 2 days. To read more go to:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/870804.html. To read an article by Noa Sattat, Executive Director of the Jerusalem Open House, go to: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3409756,00.html.
What can you do to help?
Stay in touch! Send us your updated contact information to development@joh.org.il and check out our website: http://www.joh.org.il
Sign the petition for democracy, freedom of expression and the right to assemble in Jerusalem:http://212.199.222.97/minisite/gaava/.
Support the Jerusalem March for Pride and Tolerance: http://www.litrom.com/joh or contact pride@joh.org.il
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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JFR, on the patition there are three spaces to fill in. Can you tell me which is which since I dont read Hebrew.
If you stand for Freedom, but you wont stand for war, then you dont stand for anything worth fighting for.
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Hi Roger,
It's sweet of you to want to add your name. I hope that maybe others here will do so too.
The box on the far right is for your name. The box in the middle is for the town where you live. The box on the far left is for your e-dress (you may want to leave that blank because you don't want to receive even GLBT mail in Hebrew).
J F R
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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Thanks for the info JFR, I signed it.
Youth crisis hot-line 866-488-7386, 24 hr (U.S.A.)
There are people who want to help you cope with being you.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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It seems a number of we non Hebrew readers have managed to sign. I wonder if they expected it to have a global reach.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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JFR wrote:
> Last week, leaders of the Jerusalem Ultra-Orthodox community, declared that every method of fighting the march is legitimate, thus subtly condoning violence against the LGBT community. The violence reported so far this year includes: threatening phone calls in the middle of the night to homes of board and staff members of the Jerusalem Open House, a traditional Jewish death curse (pulsa de'nura) intended to threaten the march organizers,
Well, hope it went OK: first reports here on http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/view.php?id=4707 suggest that one home-made bomb was discovered, and 12 anti-gay protesters were arrested. It could, I guess, have been much worse.
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
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I followed that bit of news NW. My source was http://www.365Gay.com. It also added this to their story:
Earlier in the day a conservative member of the Israeli Parliament called for gays to be placed in internment camps. "Like we have institutions to rehabilitate drug abusers, we should establish special teams with psychologists to help them return to a normal life," said Nissim Ze'ev, a member of the Shas party.
Ze'ev also said that gay sex should be "recriminalized."
©365Gay.com 2007
Youth crisis hot-line 866-488-7386, 24 hr (U.S.A.)
There are people who want to help you cope with being you.
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It's OK, NW, it went off even better than could have been expected. The Parade marched (and it looked very colourful indeed, though 'respectable', as befits 'the Holy City'). The police estimated that about 5000 took part. They also mentioned that 7000 police were needed to to provide the security.
The Ultra-orthodox contra-parade was a washout: about 1500 people turned up and made a lot of noise every time a TV camera turned their way, but that's about all.
Unfortunately, the 'happening' in Liberty Bell Park that was planned to follow the parade did not happen because it required a licence from the Fire Brigade, which was on strike. While the participants in the parade were disappointed that the 'happening' didn't happen they were very pleased that despite everything they had demonstrated that "We are here".
Until next year.
BTW, I would have wanted to join in this parade, but those who know me will understand why I could not march this year.
J F R
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3416092,00.html
J F R
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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