Tel Aviv’s gay pride festival draws record-breaking 100,000: Obama felicitates their courage

Like play, same sex is gaining ground all over the globe

Tel Aviv hosted its 20th annual Gay Pride Festival on Friday, with a record-breaking 100,000 spectators and participants attending the celebrations, including droves of tourists from all over the world.

The Festival began at 10 a.m. at Gan Meir park, home to the city’s gay community center, and featured performances, speeches and music. A massive parade of tens of thousands of participants started at 1 p.m., making its way from the park through central Tel Aviv and culminating at the iconic Gordon Beach.

Attendees at the event included Finance Minister Yair Lapid, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Minister of Culture and Sport Limor Livnat, Labor party chief Shelly Yachimovich and Meretz head Zahava Gal-on.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai kicked off the festivities with a speech that reflected on the achievements of the LGBT movement in the years since he first began emceeing the Pride Parade, back in 1998.

Yesh Atid party head Lapid’s speech in Gan Meir was cut short due to heckling which he attributed on his Facebook page to rival Meretz and Labor activists.

In a few short sentences, the finance minister managed to convey his sentiments that every couple, gay or straight, has the right to get married and have children. He also spoke to his Yesh Atid party’s “deep indebtedness” to the LGBT community.

Also addressing the crowd, US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro conveyed warm wishes from President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and the American people.

“There’s no better place to celebrate than in Tel Aviv, the friendliest city in the world to the LGBT community,” he said.

“We learned from Israel to let our troops serve in the military without having to hide who they love,” Shapiro added. “We’re not done yet, there is still much to be done.”

Thousands of tourists flocked over the past week to Tel Aviv, which has featured large-scale parties and functions all leading up to Friday’s main event. Among the notable foreign visitors, the first gay couple to legally marry in France were in town to celebrate their nuptials and join in the festivities.