June 6

Tel Aviv’s annual Pride event will this year be combined with a hostage solidarity gathering.

The city’s Pride and Hope Assembly will be marked by hundreds of LGBTQ rainbow flags with an expanded yellow stripe to show support for the hostages in Gaza and their families.

The assembly replaces the traditional Pride parade and party that has taken place since 1993 and typically attracts 250,000 people.

It takes place at 6pm on Thursday, June 6 at Charles Clore Park, the usual venue for the Pride party.

Israel’s Eurovision stars Netta Barzilai and Noa Kirel will headline the event and New York comedian Daniel Ryan Spaulding will perform.

There will also be a tribute to the 370 people murdered at the Supernova music festival on October 7 and a ceremony to honor the Tel Aviv community’s loved ones.

Photos of Pride flags in Tel Aviv courtesy of the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality.

The decision to replace the usual parade with a joint Pride and Hope event was taken, the Tel Aviv municipality says, because of “a collective desire to commemorate the events of October 7 and acknowledge the ongoing war, while also fostering a sense of pride, hope, and freedom within the community.”

The gathering will emphasize solidarity, resilience and acceptance.

“The Pride flag is a symbol of freedom,” said Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai. “This year, we demand freedom for the hostages who are held captive by Hamas.

“Currently, 125 of our sons and daughters are still hostages in Gaza. We are in one of the most difficult periods of the state of Israel and the circle of bereavement is expanding every day. We feel the pain of the entire country, and at the same time, we do not stop for a moment the fight for equality and freedom for everyone.”

Meital Lehavi, Tel Aviv’s deputy mayor for the LGBTQ community, said: “The unique Pride flag that will accompany us at every Pride event, with the expanded yellow color, emphasizes the importance of the fight to bring the hostages home, support for families, and symbolizes the sunlight that we all hope to see again soon.

“This year we made sure to express through Pride events the importance of supporting the families of the hostages, starting with the pride flags that will be hung throughout the city and of course the Pride and Hope Assembly.”

Pride Weekend (May 30 – June 1) will also include the traditional LGBTQ Family Picnic, the Transgender Pride Event honoring Gila Goldstein, the Third Age Pride Gathering for LGBTQ seniors and the Drama Queen LGBTQ Theatre Festival (June 13 – 15).