2024 New York In New York, the
Israeli Consulate announced that it would reduce its presence at the Pride Parade, due to both safety concerns and Israel's somber mood towards the war. Congressman
Ritchie Torres criticized Pride-related pro-Palestine activism as "a perversion of pride" that pressures pro-Israel Jews to "be in
the closet about [their] Zionism". Activists led a
call and response chant with the audience, until
NYPD arrested 10 activists.
ACT UP staged an action at a display honoring LGBTQ "trailblazers" on
Fire Island. They replaced a flag honoring Ritchie Torres with one of
Cecilia Gentili in protest of Torres's collaboration with the NYPD and his pro-Israel advocacy. Additionally, they hung an ACT UP flag that showed their pink triangle logo made of a
watermelon, a pro-Palestine symbol, to honor Queer Palestinians. The protest was condemned by Torres who accused ACT UP of supporting Hamas and stated that: "a Queer Palestinian is far freer and safer in Israel than in a Gaza Strip ruled by Hamas."
Michael Lucas posted a video on social media of himself removing the watermelon flag and putting in the trash. The march also raised money for the pro-Palestine group
Within Our Lifetime. In opposition, a group of Jewish lesbians held a separate event at the same time. Protesters chanted slogans such as "No pride in genocide". Queer pro-Palestine activists called for a boycott of
San Francisco Pride (SF Pride) due to corporate sponsors' ties to Israel, police participation, and the decision to make
Billy Porter, who has made pro-Israel statements, Grand Marshal. An alternative "No pride in genocide" march was attended by more than a thousand participants. Pro-Israel groups criticized SF Pride for posting a statement suggesting an Israeli float would be barred from participating in the march. SF Pride later clarified that there had been no Israeli float registered by the deadline. In Boston, over 100 protestors blocked the
Boston Pride parade, two of whom were detained by police. Over 60 pro-Palestine organizations called for Boston Pride to divest from companies they said had ties to Israel. Members of Cincinnati Socialists were asked to leave a pride event for handing out flyers alleging that Israel was conducting a "
Final Solution" against Palestinians. Several days later, Cincinnati Socialists made an Instagram post
"naming and shaming" two Jewish
Cincinnati Pride board members for supporting Israel. Afterwards, Cincinnati Pride released a statement that two Jewish board members had been threatened with violence and were resigning for safety reasons. The local
Jewish Federation condemned the Cincinnati Socialists as antisemitic and organized a separate pride parade.
Outside of the US Tel Aviv cancelled its 2024
Pride Parade, instead holding a rally in support of the
Israeli hostages and the Israeli military. The event included appearances from
Noa Kirel, LGBTQ activists, and families of the hostages. Awards were given to a soldier who served in Gaza and the partner of
Sagi Golan, a soldier killed on October 7. The
Jerusalem pride parade was held without music and attracted fewer attendees than usual. The theme was "Born to be Free", and speakers included
Yair Lapid, hostage families, and Sagi Golan's partner. The Glasgow Greens and Rainbow Greens of the
Scottish Greens marched in a "No Pride in Genocide: Radical Bloc" instead of the parade's "Green Bloc".
Gary Kinsman, who co-founded
Pride Toronto, resigned from the organizing committee due to its ties with corporations that are involved in the Gaza war. Thirty protesters from the Coalition Against Pinkwashing blocked the parade for 45 minutes, chanting pro-Palestine slogans and handing out literature. As a result, event organizers ended the parade early.
2025 A pride month concert in New York City's
Central Park was cancelled due to concerns about "security" and "controversy" from Mayor
Eric Adams. The performer,
Kehlani, had another concert at
Cornell University cancelled that year due to their pro-Palestine advocacy. Kehlani later withdrew from headlining the
San Francisco Pride festival, after the organizers released a statement condemning her pro-Palestine stance. Eight Jewish groups, the mayor,
UC San Diego, and others decided not to participate in
San Diego Pride due to Kehlani's participation as headliner at the festival. The festival lost financial support due to Kehlani's performance but experienced record ticket sales.
Youth Demand disrupted
London Pride for an hour by pouring red paint on the
Cisco float, gluing themselves to it, and chanting “we charge you with genocide”. Five activists were arrested. On social media they posted a statement accusing Cisco of aiding Israel in committing
genocide in Gaza.
Jerusalem Pride observed the 10 year anniversary of the murder of
Shira Banki, a parade participant, and Yair Lapid criticized right-wing opposition to LGBTQ rights. Some marchers held signs calling for an end to the war and the release of the Israeli hostages. A left-wing group called on Israelis to
refuse to join the military and stated that Israel was "killing gay people in Gaza." == See also ==