August 6th-12th 2006 will be World Pride in Jerusalem. Queeruption 9 will take place in Tel Aviv from August 3rd through 13th. Queeruption is a do-it-yourself, anti-commercial, non-hierarchal, safe and open space for workshops, music, art, actions, parties, sex, performances and everything participants propose and/or prepare. Queeruption welcomes and celebrates all gender identities and sexualities, with no tolerance for sexism, macho behavior, racism, heterophobia, homophobia, transphobia, discrimination based on different abilities or ages, and any form of aggression.

The slogan of the World Pride Parade is “Love Without Borders”. Queeruption organizers believe that love without borders should reject occupation, Apartheid, social injustice, ecological destruction and walls. Queers who were present at Queeruption in Barcelona last year said that they view themselves as part of the global struggle for freedom, justice and self determination. They say that several Palestinian organizations have called for a boycott of World Pride, and that it is important to push their solidarity further by going to Israel and Palestine for a celebration of diversity, empowerment and resistance. Read more

The Boycott World Pride website says, "Although Jerusalem was designated as an "international city" by the United Nations, travel to Jerusalem may only be accomplished with the consent of the Israeli government and its military forces. We are appalled that InterPride chose Jerusalem as the site of the second World Pride event and is encouraging LGBTIQ people from all over the world to ignore the boycott and spend significant funds in Israel, bolstering its tourist economy and its disingenuous claim to be a "free," democratic, state." Deeg from LAGAI writes, "(F)or the LGBTIQ movement...for peoples who consider ourselves part of the international human rights movement, to figuratively march en masse across the Palestinians’ picket line to attend (either World Pride or Queeruption)... is an appalling spectacle."

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has condemned homophobic statements made by Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious leaders in connection with World Pride 2006. The organization has stated that it will not be participating in World Pride 2006. It also points out that many people from the Middle East will be unable to participate in World Pride due to travel restrictions and conditions that limit mobility and participation. IGLHRC encourages all those who participate in World Pride 2006 to engage in discussion about the denial of human rights of all people in the region, as well as LGBTI communities in Israel and the Occupied Territories. IGLHRC's statement

Queeruption | Queeruption 9 website | Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism | Read more on Indybay's Palestine News Page