BICOM

Thousands of Israelis and overseas visitors are expected to fill the streets of Tel Aviv today to celebrate the city’s 20th annual Gay Pride Parade.

The event is expected to attract record crowds. Last year’s parade was attended by 200,000 people, including 30,000 foreign tourists. This year it is predicted to be even bigger, making it one of the largest pride parades in the world.

The theme this year, “The Community Makes History,” acknowledges three historical milestones: 10 years since the founding of the Gay Centre in Tel Aviv; 20 years since Tel Aviv’s first pride parade; and 70 years of Israeli independence. This year will also feature a tribute to long-time LGBT activists.

The parade will be launched by Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and will include 13 floats, one of which belongs to the British Embassy in Israel, the only embassy that has its own float. Earlier this week, the embassy unveiled the design and Ambassador David Quarrey said the theme of the float was icons of British music, including Elton John, Amy Winehouse, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, “who have helped bring generations together”.

This is the second year consecutive that the British embassy will be represented by a float at the parade. This year it fits into a wider campaign to visit the UK including the tagline – ‘Love is Great’. This week saw giant posters on the side of Tel Aviv hotels showing same-sex couples in a loving embrace, the wording under the image urging LGBT couples to “tie the knot” in the UK.

The colourful parade will commence at Ben Zion Boulevard in southwestern Tel Aviv, and proceed to the beachfront, along Bograshov, HaYarkon, Frishman, and Herbert Samuel streets before concluding at Charles Clore Park, where a party is to be held. On the main stage will be numerous local pop stars, including Israel’s Netta Barzilai, the winner of the 2018 Eurovision song contest. There will also be a teen area operated by the Israel Gay Youth organisation, and stands selling food and other products.