'Born to be Free': Tens of thousands march in Jerusalem Pride, call for hostage deal

Ten thousand people marched in the 22nd Jerusalem Pride and Tolerance March on Thursday afternoon, calling for equal rights and the release of the hostages being held in Gaza.

The march was held under the title “Born to Be Free” in partnership with the families of hostages being held by Hamas. It was dedicated both to calling for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community and for the release of the hostages still in captivity in Gaza.

Calling for the release of the hostages

The Jerusalem Hostage Forum led a dedicated group calling for the release of the hostages, and a group of Hapoel Jerusalem soccer fans marched to call for the release of their friend Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who is still captive in Gaza.

Another group marched in memory of Maj. Sagi Golan carrying banners reading “Equality in Life.” Golan was killed while fighting Hamas terrorists on October 7 in Kibbutz Be’eri, just days before he was set to get married to his fiancé, Omer Ohana.

While most years the march is accompanied by loud music and dancing, this didn’t take place this year due to the war. Some slower and somber music was played.

The march went faster than usual as well, partially due to it being smaller than usual and partially due to the subdued mood. Many participants noted the stark difference compared to most years: the people who were missing, the lack of festivities, and the weight of the war.

A small group of protesters carried signs calling for an end to the war, while others held a sign reading “supporting Palestinians = supporting terrorism.”

About 2,000 police officers operated throughout the city to secure the event. The police said ahead of the event that anyone who tried to disturb the march would be dealt with stringently. No unusual or violent events were reported during the march.

Ohana, at the rally, said, “There are those who are threatened by all this, but I want to tell you – I have no goal to win you over. The fact that we will be equal, does not mean that something in your rights will be harmed. The days when we fought within ourselves must end. We live in a reality where there is enough war out there. Among us, we need to be together. To act so that each and everyone has equality, and that each and every one has individuality. I ask of you, what I ask of myself every morning: Be a little like Sagi, be optimistic, be innocent, believe that what is still broken can be fixed, must be fixed. And we will fix it.”

Nilly Maderer, CEO of the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, noted how Pride has been changed by the war.

“This is not a normal year, and out of the despair and pain, a key thing became clear – the cure for pain, sadness, and loss – is the community,” said Maderer.

“Out of the loss we found ourselves influencing and changing the world, setting up neighborhood meetings, fighting to change laws in the Knesset, and expanding emergency aid for everyone and everything needed. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, we succeeded at the Jerusalem Open House to lead national projects, promote policy changes, and make the state’s institutions more inclusive.

“We have a lot of power and with power comes responsibility. Just as we have the responsibility to fight for our rights as the LGBTQ+ community, so too we have the moral duty to fight for the release of the hostages. Freedom is fundamental, a base, a starting point. There will be good tidings from Jerusalem – they always say – so I will conclude by saying that I hope that the cry for the return of the hostages that is heard on this stage will lead to a deal to return them home. Let’s promote a policy of freedom for all, full equality of rights, and safety!”

Havruta and Bat Kol, two of the central organizations of the religious Jewish LGBTQ+ community, said, “There are kidnapped, murdered, wounded, evacuated, many of us are in the reserves and the terrible situation in which the nation of Israel finds itself does not allow us to be happy this year, but we will not stop marching for the right to be who we are without giving up our Jewish identity. The nation of Israel now needs unity, between all its parts and all its identities – and that is why we march, with a heavy heart, this year as well.”

Jonathan Valfer, chair of the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, called for Israeli society to be more inclusive.

“Our Israeli society has much to learn from the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance and the LGBTQ+ community in our capital city,” said Valfer. “The time has come for our Israeli home to make room for everyone, even when it’s a bit crowded and resources are limited. Our future here lies in our ability to sit at the same table, whether right-wing or left-wing, transgender or settler, Arab or reservist. There must be room for everyone.

Everyone deserves to feel at home. A home where disagreements, differences, and even anger, no matter how intense, are managed with respect and for the greater good.

“We cannot speak of the revival and recovery of our Home as long as 125 of our brothers and sisters remain in captivity. We cannot envision a better future until they return. We cannot imagine a future at all.”

The traditional counter-protest organized by right-wing organizations was held in Bloomfield Garden, across from where the march started.