Israeli gays banned from Madrid gay pride parade

Interesting little article in 'Haaretz' reporting that Madrid has banned an Israeli delegation from the city's gay pride parade in protest at Israel's action against the peace activists who were trying to break the Gaza blockade last week. "After what has happened, and as human rights campaigners, it seemed barbaric to us to have them taking part," Antonio Poveda, of Spain's Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transexuals and Bisexuals said. And I say, "well done boys, girls and others."

Takes us back to the "bubble" that is Tel Aviv and isn't it wonderful that Antonio Poveda and his friends, "as human rights campaigners" can point out to them that there are no "bubbles". As I wrote in an earlier post, "Tel Aviv, a supposed island of liberalism and tolerance, cannot be divorced from the country as a whole." Indeed, it cannot be divorced from the planet as a whole. However, more, than that, toleration of a person's sexuality is something that gay and civil rights campaigners have fought hard for and the type of tolerance which allows them to march in Madrid is not compatible with that intolerance that deprives the Palestinians of their dignity and then kills those who try to help them. Would be nice if there are a couple of people back in the "bubble" who, at least, realise that. Because if they don't, believe me, they might just be next on the agenda.

"We don't just defend our own little patch," he said.