Pride in London is one of the biggest events in the City’s calendar. Yet an event that prides itself on the values of inclusivity, tolerance and diversity will be Judenfrei (Jew Free), after the Jewish grouping was forced to withdraw from the Parade. Why you ask? Because Pride in London were unable to guarantee their safety.
In London in 2024, Jews are once again unable to safely walk the streets whilst being openly Jewish. Jewish business has been attacked, antisemitic conspiracies abound, and just this week a group of Jewish school children were assaulted in Belsize Park.
For at least one LGBT+ Jew, this will be their first pride, their first opportunity to see people exactly like them, but that has been take away by antisemites. It is a stain on both the City and Pride In London’s reputation that Jews are unsafe to march as an open group:
Pride which stands with all minorities, unless you’re a Jew.
Pride which welcomes everyone no matter how you identify or who you love, unless you’re a Jew.
Pride which welcomes 1.5 million people, unless you’re a Jew.
Pride for the many, not the Jew.
The sad truth is that for most of our lives as gay Jews, the ‘gay’ part of our identity is the one we felt most scared of revealing, but in London in 2024 it is revealing the latter that feels the most unsafe.
LGTB+ Jews and allies deserve the opportunity to participate in Pride alongside everyone else and to experience the opportunity to see, often for the first time, people who share both their identities and wear them proudly. With that in mind we have set up a free, open Jewish Pride Event at Miznon in Soho to provide a safe space for LGBT+ Jews and allies to openly celebrate both their identities. Through our event, we are reclaiming out right to celebrate pride and refusing to be pushed out of spaces, and what’s more the whole Jewish community is invited.
Because this is an issue which does not just affect LGBT+ Jews, it affects all Jews. Over 1.5 million people turned up for London Pride in 2023, meaning this will be the largest event in UK history from which Jews will be excluded and as such we need the whole community’s support to fight back. This has to be our line in the sand. If it isn’t, then what will we be excluded from next?
This isn’t about politics or what views we may have on conflicts thousands of miles away. This is about antisemitism. After a year of beatings, boycotts and rampant antisemitism, if this is not a red line for our community, then what is? Enough is enough! We call on the whole Jewish community, gay and straight, to come and support us at our event for a defiant celebration of LGBT & Jewish Pride.
This Saturday, 29th June, at Miznon Soho, 8 Broadwick St, London, W1F 8HW, between 2-4pm: We will dance again!
David & Max
