GayCityNews.com – Michael T. Luongo
Lasting impact of Jerusalem event marred by war and divisions remains to be seen
There was already a palpable tension in the air on Thursday in Jerusalem as World Pride attendees awaited the day?s main event?the 6 p.m. Protest Against Hatred.
The gathering had originally been planned as a Gay Pride March through the streets of Jerusalem. But with war raging in Lebanon, the city government?which had continually worked to block World Pride from taking place in the first place?told planners that there was no way for local law enforcement to provide protection. The evening before the protest, Hagai El-Ad, the executive director of Jerusalem?s Open House, the group behind World Pride, told participants he ?could not guarantee their safety? even though the event had been scaled back from a citywide march to a vigil.