Jerusalem mayor tours gay center, calls flag torching ‘a barbaric act’

After Olmert toured the community center on Aug. 23, he met with JOH volunteers, and observed the rainbow flag that was torched by vandals the night before his visit.

The mayor expressed his outrage over the incident and commented that the attack was "a barbaric act that should be condemned." He declared he would publicly denounce the act and expressed hope that the police would find the attackers and bring them to justice.

Asked about pride events in Jerusalem, Olmert said that since a pride parade requires public support -- a complex issue in Jerusalem's reality -- he is willing to look into the subject, but cannot guarantee results.

"We need to work wisely for such a process to evolve," he said. When asked about what the haredi response had been to his visit, Olmert said that he received none, adding that he doesn't expect any, since his visit to the Open House as mayor is "simply natural."

"We see this first visit as highly symbolic," remarked Hagai El-Ad, JOH's executive director. "Future support from the mayor's office to the Open House, along with the mayor's personal involvement, will help us address the general public and advance the causes of pluralism and tolerance in Jerusalem.

"The Open House is already an integral part of Jerusalem's landscape. In our third year of activities in the center of Jerusalem we hope to continue to grow, reaching out to Jerusalem Palestinians, working for legal recognition for gay and lesbian families and more.

"We look forward to pride events 2002, hoping that with the mayor's office's help, they will be prouder than ever."

The rainbow flag, flying from the balcony of the Open House above the pedestrian mall in the center of Jerusalem, was partially burnt. A note left nearby stated "God will humiliate those that have pride."

El-Ad said the JOH submitted a formal complaint to the Jerusalem police. This is the third time since June pride month events that the Open House was targeted for vandalism and a police complaint was filed.

In an effort to maintain dialogue with religious communities, the Open House plans to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with rabbinical students from the Conservative Yeshiva, Hebrew Union College and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. "This is our only answer to such incidents," El-Ad said. More information is available via the JOH Web site, http://www.gay.org.il/joh

El-Ad added a new pride flag will soon replace the half-burnt one.