How is this an 'Israeli Pride Flag'? How does use by one city, or even one country, erase what this flag means for an entire world-wide community? In 20 marchers in Jerusalem Pride were violently attacked and in 2015 one, Shira Banki, was killed. This flag is carried by gay Jews and Jewish supporters across America, around the world, and, yes, in Israel.īut while this flag may be welcomed in Tel Aviv, people I know who marched in Jerusalem's World Pride in 2006 from Chicago (my rabbi being one them) were publically ridiculed and shunned for carrying this exact same flag. Closeīesides the Star of David being a symbol of the Jewish people, I think of what this flag means to Jewish people around the world. The email address you have provided is already registered. How can this be called a Chicago Dyke March if local Dykes are made to feel unwelcomed and unsafe, be they at the march or in spirit? Furthermore, as this continues to pour out in social media, other Queer Jewish activists are sharing stories of have been excluded, or how they decided to avoid the march for this reason. "I’ve felt unsafe in the past." They were there because, like me, felt a strong connection with Dyke March Chicago, yet felt they had to hide their Judaism. "Thank you for marching," said more than one Jewish marcher. 'You call this inclusion? A safe space? Intersectional? Just not for Jews like me?' Celebrating the 48th annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade on Jin Chicago, Illinois KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP This year, there was some of that, but it was attached to a much more disturbing message. Several people even took pictures either with me, or holding my flag, because they were so happy to see it and proudly proclaimed their Jewish Pride and/or solidarity on the spot. In every year that I marched, I carried the flag from my congregation unhindered. I was tremendously proud of this initiative and showed my support by continuing to take part in Dyke March event after it moved. This was a brilliant move that made it possible for more people of diverse color, ages, gender expression, citizenship status, and economic status, to be visible and empowered. This was done as a sign that not all LGBTQ people reside in Chicago’s Northside and that they have a right to be visible and included as well. To drive this mission even further, ten years or so after its founding, the Dyke March itself was taken out of Andersonville, an affluent, mostly Queer friendly neighborhood on Chicago’s Northside, and transformed into a rotating march that kicked off in a different Chicago neighborhood every few years. It was done to raise awareness and empower those who identify as female, and others who felt marginalized and/or felt invisible at Chicago’s Pride Parade, among the onslaught of commercial and political candidate floats. Read more: The Hostile LGBTQ Protest Helped No One in Israel or Palestine ■ Linda Sarsour Doesn't Need to Make Zionist Women Feel Comfortable ■ Do anti-Trump Feminists Value Terrorists More Than Jewish Women? ■ We in the Palestinian Solidarity Movement Have a Problem With anti-Semitismĭyke March has taken place for over 20 years. This march is a private event and you are offending the organizers of this event."
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"That may be what the flag means to you, but other people find it offensive.
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In part, by carrying this flag, it has allowed me to show the pride I carry for me and my identities, as well as my communities.
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While there is always work to be done as far as including and empowering LGBTQ Jews within Jewish spaces, the community as a whole has come a long, long way. This flag I received from my congregation, Congregation Or Chadash, which was founded over 42 years ago when the Jewish community still closed its doors to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews. envoy at pride event: 'Hatred toward LGBT community threatens all of us'įor over ten years, I have marched in Dyke March, carrying this same flag, without incident. The wrong way for Jewish leaders to battle anti-Semitism and the anti-Israel left in the LGBTQ community Why? Because I was carrying a rainbow flag with a single Jewish star.Ĭhicago 'Dyke March' bans Jewish pride flags: 'They made people feel unsafe' You are putting them in danger by being here." I was told this by Chicago's Dyke Collective organizers, volunteers, and even other marchers.
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"You have to leave because you are making people feel unsafe.