Morning demonstration

Yesterday morning we went to a demonstration. We boarded a bus to East Jerusalem by a checkpoint on the road to Bethlehem. We were demonstrating solidarity with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Palestinians who cannot cross into West Jerusalem to join in World Pride.



There was some question about whether to boycott World Pride because of the increased difficulty such a high profile event could cause at the checkpoints. In the end, many people decided that it was more important be visible as queers and to start dialogue in the region; that was the most important purpose. There is a gay and lesbian Palestinian organization that did in fact take this position. (And there is a lesbian Palestinian group that took the other side, and they share members between both groups.)

Because of the war in Lebanon, the argument became pointless. People in the West Bank cannot enter Israel at all right now. Israelis are not allowed to go into the West Bank.