The on again off again, celebration by the Jerusalem gay and lesbian community in celebrating their sexuality went off over the weekend without a hitch. The gay community in Israel faced vehement opposition over the last few months from religious fundamentalists, including the Vatican, when it was planning the march and rally.
The march never occurred but the rally did. According to BBC News, about 4,000 gay men, lesbians and civil rights supporters gathered at the Hebrew University stadium for the rally on November 10, complete with live rock music, dancing and declarations of pride,
Security was tight in the city with 3,000 Israeli police drafted in to stop clashes between the demonstrators and orthodox Jews. The event, originally planned as a march had to change tack following last year’s march which was marred by bloodshed when an ultra-Orthodox man stabbed and wounded three participants.
