BICOM

Tel Aviv will largely come to a standstill as the city hosts one of the world’s largest gay pride parades.

Up to 180,000 people are expected to participate in the city’s eighteenth annual parade. Many of the city’s major streets will be closed to traffic as the parade makes its way from the Gan Meir park in the centre of the city to the beach promenade, culminating in a party at the Charles Clore Park. Tens of thousands of foreign tourists are thought to have arrived in Tel Aviv especially for the festivities, which are the culmination of Tel Aviv’s Gay Pride Week. The event is considered an important part of the city’s cultural identity. The theme of this year’s parade is “Women for a change,” and will highlight the role of women in the LGBTQ community.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai said: “The Pride Parade has turned into one of the symbols of the City of Tel Aviv with hundreds of thousands of participants… I believe that Tel Aviv-Yafo, a city of tolerance, is a beacon to other cities in this issue.”

Recently, Tel Aviv was named “The gayest city on earth” by the Boston Globe and ranked by CNN as “one of the world’s top gay honeymoon spots”.

Meanwhile, a recent poll indicates growing public support in Israel for gay civil unions or marriage. The survey, commissioned by Israeli civil equality advocacy group Hiddush, asked the question: “In your opinion, should civil marriage/civil partnerships be available for same-sex couples?”

Of all respondents, 76 per cent said yes. This compares with 64 per cent who answered yes to the same question in a poll last year. Official marriages in Israel are the purview of the religious authorities and so there is currently no civil marriage or union for same-sex or heterosexual couples.