Tens of thousands attend Pride parade in Israel's Tel Aviv

Tens of thousands of people are attending a Pride parade in Tel Aviv in one of the largest public gatherings held since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic

TEL AVIV, Israel -- Tens of thousands of people attended a Pride parade in Tel Aviv on Friday in one of the largest public gatherings held since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The vibrant parade and beach party are held on the seafront promenade in the Israeli city, a rare hub of gay culture in the conservative Middle East. Elsewhere in the region homosexuality is widely considered taboo and is outlawed in many countries. Some 250,000 people attended the Tel Aviv parade honoring the LGBTQ community in 2019 before it was called off last year because of the pandemic. “Pride events in Tel Aviv-Yafo are a long-standing tradition, centered on a message of equality, acceptance, and human and civil rights," Mayor Ron Huldai said. "This year, more than ever, we will celebrate together, march together, and fight together for equality.”