Mayor Who Tried to Ban Gay Pride Praises Taliban 'Family Values'
PINK NEWS: The Doncaster mayor who tried to ban funding for gay Pride marches has caused shock by claiming people should look to the Taliban as a good example of family values.

Peter Davies, an English Democrat who was elected in June, claimed that under the Taliban, Afghanistan had an "ordered system of family life".

Referring to recent child abuse scandals in the town, he added: "The one thing that can be said about the Taliban is that they do have an ordered society of some sort and that they don't have hundreds of cases of children under threat of abuse from violent parents as we do in Doncaster."

Although the mayor has been praised by some for his crusade against 'political correctness', his latest pronouncements have drawn rather less support. >>> Jessica Green | Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Rioters Invade Budapest's Jewish Ghetto
THE JERUSALEM POST: A crowd of 500 demonstrators, including neo-Nazis and skinheads, rampaged in Budapest's Jewish district.

Hungarian riot police deployed tear gas and baton charges Saturday against the vociferously xenophobic crowd as it tried to disrupt Hungary's annual Gay Pride parade.

More than 30 arrests were made on charges including possession of offensive weapons and riotous behavior. Heightened surveillance was enforced throughout the day to prevent a recurrence of the mayhem that ended last year's parade, in which there were more than a dozen serious injuries, according to Éva Tafferner, press officer at Budapest police headquarters.

The rioters invaded the heart of the traditional Jewish Ghetto District, started a small fire, tore down signs and shouted threatening anti-Semitic vitriol. The attacks were witnessed by families of foreign Jews visiting the district for the current Budapest Jewish Cultural Festival. >>> JTA | Sunday, September 06, 2009

Rabbis Condemn Anti-gay Shooting
YNET NEWS: Chief Rabbinate says appalled at 'unthinkable, vile crime' that left two dead. Gay Orthodox rabbi calls on public leaders to denounce attack

The Chief Rabbinate expressed shock and outrage at the Tel Aviv shooting at a gay youth center Saturday evening, calling it "an unthinkable, vile crime." In a statement published Sunday the Rabbinate said that, "When Moses saw a Jew beating another Jew he called him evil. This is all the more true when a Jew murders a Jew."

Meanwhile, the Hod organization for Orthodox gay men strongly condemned "the horrible massacre committed against the gay and lesbian community in Tel Aviv," conveyed its condolences to the victims' families and wished speedy recovery to those who were injured.

Rabbi Ron Yosef, a homosexual Orthodox rabbi who runs the organization, told Ynet that he has been receiving threats on his life in the last year. >>> Kobi Nahshoni | Sunday, August 02, 2009

YNET NEWS: Opinion: Pride and Prejudice

Despite liberal image, fear and hatred ever-present on Tel Aviv’s streets

Friday night on Tel Aviv’s beachfront promenade; two guys holding hands, standing at the shoreline, and kissing. Three men pass by and swear at them; one man spits. Tel Aviv, Israel’s liberalism capital, the city that openly celebrates pride parades and markets gay tourism packages worldwide; a city whose leaders inaugurate gay centers, but cannot defend us from our greatest enemy – fear and hatred.

This shooting attack, should it turn out it was indeed directed at the homo-lesbian community, is not a unique event; it’s merely an extreme one, but make no mistake about it, incidents like that take place on Tel Aviv’s streets time and again with no interruption. About two months ago, two guys were chased by a group armed with baseball bats; before that, two youngsters were stabbed outside a gay club. Meanwhile, numerous cases go unreported.

For those who arrive from the outside it sometimes appears as though the city is painted an especially bright shade of pink; here one can hold hands on Rothschild Boulevard, nonchalantly hop from one club to another, wed, adopt children, and run for city council. Yet for those who live here, the curses, hateful glares, spits, and hidden hostility are clearly felt. The double life: On the one hand one can feel open and safe, but on the other hand nothing is really safe here. Just ask the youngsters who showed up to the weekly meeting at the gay center last night; check who will return next week.

Once a year, spokespersons on behalf of the gay community are requested to explain why we insist on the pride parade; so here is the answer. There are those who fan the flames of hatred and homophobia, and the outcome may lead to gunfire. Here is your answer, this is the reason: Because they shoot at us. At times they use words, and other times they use bullets. >>> Shlomi Laufer | Sunday, August 02, 2009

YNET NEWS: Hundreds March in Tel Aviv Following Shooting

Photo: Ynet News
Spontaneous ceremony held in memory of two people killed in attack on gay youth center. 'This is an act of pure unfounded hatred, which leads to the murder of children for being gays and lesbians,' one of participants tells Ynet

Spontaneous memorial, hours after deadly attack: Hundreds of people marched silently Saturday night from the place where two people were murdered at a gay and lesbian youth center in central Tel Aviv, towards a gay center in Meir Park.

The marchers held gay community flags and signs reading "All together – without hatred and fear" and "Love – don't kill".

Revital, one of the participants, told Ynet, "The feeling is terrifying. We live in a bubble, believing that everything is fine. This is an act of pure unfounded hatred, which leads to the murder of children for being gays and lesbians. It's very sad knowing that it's still so." >>> Izzy Ein Dor | Sunday, August 02, 2009

Homophobic Harassment During Gay Pride

iPride Brings Homosexuals Together in Time for Parade
Nitzan Horowitz – openly gay Knesset member. Photo: Google Images
THE JERUSALEM POST: Citing the "ongoing struggle" homosexuals face in areas outside of Tel Aviv, Meretz MK Nitzan Horowitz, the second openly gay elected Knesset member, was one of several speakers who met with 50 people at the Gay Community Center in Tel Aviv on Thursday to discuss the role and envolvement of gay rights and activism in Israel as part of the five-day program iPride, culminating in Tel Aviv's Gay Pride Parade next Friday.

"The main problem is that most of the gay rights achievements have been won in courts, not through law… Court rulings can be reversed, which is why it's so important to establish gay rights in the legislation," explained Horowitz.

As Tel Aviv prepares to celebrate its centennial, the gay pride parade is included as part of the celebration. "I feel that there has been a change. We are part of mainstream [society]," said Jonathan Danilowitz, a former El-Al flight attendant.

He filed a complaint with the Labor District Court in 1989 to procure an equal right for his then partner of 10 years to receive free flight tickets.

"I felt an outrageous discrimination against me as a gay man," Danilowitz told The Jerusalem Post. "I wasn't going to put up with it and now feel a sense of pride."

The court ruled in his favor, marking an Israeli precedent granting gay rights. Equality under law and inheritance rights for gay couples also were approved during the same period.

After finding their voice and gaining new rights, the GLBT community had another sector of life to face - the army. But unlike other militarized countries, homosexual members of the army do not face discrimination from the Israel Defense Force, according to Major Yoni Schoenfeld.

"If in America the policy is 'Don't ask, don't tell," he said. "Then in Israel, it's 'You can tell, but we just don't care.'" >>> By Stephanie Rubenstein | Friday, June 12, 2009

YOUTUBE: iPride Tel Aviv 2009 Gay Pride Parade

Gay Pride à Paris
LE FIGARO: Les associations jugent insuffisant le projet gouvernemental de « contrat d'union civile » pour couples du même sexe, sans droit à la filiation.

LA GAY PRIDE a défilé samedi à Paris dans une ambiance toujours aussi politisée. Cette « marche des fiertés homosexuelles » a rassemblé 700 000 personnes selon les organisateurs. Elle est l'une des dernières occasions pour le milieu associatif homosexuel de donner de la voix avant les propositions du gouvernement à la session parlementaire d'automne. Le droit au mariage et à l'adoption pour les couples homosexuels reste la revendication prioritaire de ces associations qui ont choisi de se rassembler autour du slogan « Égalité : ne transigeons pas ! ». « Si Ségolène Royal avait remporté l'élection présidentielle, nous aurions choisi»Égalité promise, égalité maintenant* comme mot d'ordre », rapporte Alain Piriou, porte-parole de l'Interassociative lesbienne, gaie, bi et transsexuelle (Inter LGBT), qui réunit soixante associations et organise la marche. La Gay Pride a défilé pour réclamer le mariage homo (suivant) Par Agnès Leclair

Mark Alexander

Carnival Atmosphere in Rome at the Gay Pride Parade

Image courtesy of Google Images

BBC: Tens of thousands of gay rights activists have marched through the streets of Rome, demanding more legal recognition for same-sex couples.

Colourful banners at the Gay Pride parade urged Italy's government to override the Vatican's objections to granting gay couples greater rights.

The march ended at the official seat of the Pope as bishop of Rome.

The Vatican has attacked a proposed law giving more rights to unmarried couples - both heterosexual and homosexual. Rome marchers demand gay rights (more)

WATCH BBC VIDEO:
Rome hosts Gay Pride parade

Mark Alexander