Jerusalem’s gay pride parade took place on Thursday evening, with over 25,000 people attending the march – a record number five times greater than last year’s event.
Heavy security was in place this year with 2,000 extra police officers brought in, as last year’s parade was marred in tragedy after a Jewish religious extremist knifed a teenager to death and wounded six others.
The march saw tributes paid to 16 year old Shira Banki, who was killed in the attack at last year’s parade.
Highlights of the event included a same sex marriage ceremony being performed and celebrations across the political spectrum, with politicians from the ruling coalition and opposition underlining their support to LGBT pride.
The event however, saw far fewer numbers than the Tel-Aviv pride parade, where over 200,000 people attended from all over the world this year.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT), rights in Israel are the most advanced in the region, and Tel Aviv has become well known for its annual Pride Parade, earning the nickname “the gay capital of the Middle East”.
Same sex relationships are punishable by death in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
