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WORLD NEWS Friday 3 august 2018

Thousands march in Jerusalem Gay Pride amid surrogacy uproar

By CARON CREIGHTON gans calling Netanyahu a
JERUSALEM (AP) — Over "homophobe."
15,000 people marched Israeli LGBT advocates and
in the Gay Pride Parade their supporters went on
through Jerusalem on strike across the country
Thursday, partying in the about two weeks ago in
shadow of a recently protest of the legislation.
passed surrogacy law that The protest generated
excludes homosexual fa- widespread support and
thers and outraged the hundreds of employers said
gay community. they allowed employees to
Waving rainbow flags em- observe the strike without
blazed with the Star of penalty. It also grew into
David and blasting music, a general call for equal-
throngs of people marched ity, following other recent
through the streets of cen- controversial legislation
tral Jerusalem amid tight that appeared to target
police security. Same-sex Israeli liberalism. "I'm here
couples held hands, others because I'm an LGBT that
held signs reading "proud lives in the state of Israel,"
to be equal" and "I want to Omer Yehoshua, wearing
be a father." red lipstick and carrying a
A few dozen people dem- rainbow flag, said. "I want
onstrated against the pa- Participants wave LGBT pride rainbow flags during annual Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem, my rights to be equal to
rade. Some held signs Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. those of a straight person
reading "Israel is the holy Associated Press who lives in this country, so
land not the homo land." that in the future I can, if I'm
Several protesters scuffled Festivities mixed with anger pass legislation supporting from ultra-Orthodox Jewish with a partner, get married
with police and officers this year after Prime Min- surrogacy for gay fathers, coalition partners. and register as parents, to
made four arrests, police ister Benjamin Netanyahu but then voted against it, Some marchers at the pa- bring children to the world,
said. last month pledged to apparently under pressure rade Thursday chanted slo- that our rights be equal."q