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The streets of the Israeli city were dyed with rainbows when thousands of people participated in the LGBTIQ+ Pride Parade, a holiday that occurs for the first time since Israel opened the borders after the pandemic. Under a radiant sun and a fervent atmosphere, floats marched and thousands of colorful people hoisted the flag of diversity.
This Friday, June 10, tens of thousands of people filled Tel Aviv to be part of the LGBTIQ+ Pride Parade, the first after Israel opened the borders after the Covid-19 pandemic, and created a festive atmosphere.
“Tel Aviv is pleased to announce the return of its iconic Pride Parade,” the municipality said on its website. In addition, they described it as “the largest event of its kind in the Middle East.”
For this celebration it is common for citizens from other countries in the region to attend and it was evident in the large crowd that walked in the streets of the Israeli coastal city.
“Tel Aviv has always been home to all transgender, lesbian and gay people and home to anyone who wants to be who they are,” said Mayor Ron Huldai.
The general panorama showed a crowd with posters referenced in the defense of the LGBT + community moving between the allegorical cars and a high temperature product of the intense Sun.
Transport Minister Merav Michaeli took the center stage and shouted a call for diversity. “Freedom, freedom of choice, and of course freedom of choice in love: We will not give them up under any circumstances!” she bellowed.
The official added that “equality does not mean that we should all be equal, but rather that we can be who we are.”
In this 23rd edition of the parade, there were a large number of same-sex couples who marched hand in hand and kissed; others also showed up in their colorful drag queen outfits.
The number of participants rose sharply after it was suspended in 2020 and in 2021 around 100,000 attended. Before the pandemic, in 2019, there were 250,000.
Israel is a strange benchmark of tolerance for the LGBTIQ+ community in the Middle East, a conservative region where homosexuality is quiet, taboo, and even banned in some countries.
Jerusalem is also hosting a pride parade, but it is more subdued, with a stiff police presence and counter-protests from ultra-Orthodox Jews.
With EFE and Reuters
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