Dit jaar is de negentiende editie van de Tel Aviv Gay Pride. Het thema is dit keer biseksualiteit, maar de lesbische dames zijn ook weer van de partij! In Israël waar same-sex marriage niet is toegestaan omdat het burgerlijk huwelijk niet bestaat (er wordt alleen binnen religies getrouwd), zijn alle dames het over eens dat de Gay Pride belangrijker is dan ooit. Waar de Hebreeuwse Pride nummers keihard door de gesprekken denderen, spreken de dames zich uit. Middenin de mensenmassa, die al dansend en feestend in de Parade door de afgezette wegen naar het strand loopt. Waar het feest tot diep in de nacht doorgaat.
Babette Bakker, lesbisch (en zelf net uit de kast), journalist, hoofdredacteur LIFF media, maakte speciaal voor Zij aan Zij deze fotoreportage. De Gay Pride in Tel Aviv is inmiddels één van de grootste ter wereld. Babette sprak deelneemsters over het belang van de Pride, over lesbisch zijn in Israël, over vrijheid, liefde en over jezelf kunnen zijn.
Efrat (33) & Elia (34) Tel Aviv
"The Gay Pride is a holiday for us. It is a party it is fun. Just us celebrating life or whatever. And hoping for rights to raise families and get married, that is something that we can’t really do right now because it is not legal. We married ten years ago for two hundred friends and family and had our own party. Our next step is to have children."
Liat (42) Tel Aviv
"The Gay Pride is means freedom and happiness. It is our holiday, the best outing we can have. We show our true selves and we’re not afraid we’re here. This is for us. I can walk in the street, and be whoever I am and no one can tell me anything. The Gay Pride means ultimate freedom to be yourself."
Atalia (24) Tel Aviv
"The Gay Pride is a celebration. It is our holiday. I’m so proud to be here, I’m so happy and it is so much fun. It is the best party in town for sure."
Yvonne (35) & (Ety) 30 Tel Aviv
"The Pride is means freedom and love to us. We want rights to be like others. We want to be treated the same. Being able to get married by law, and not to be judged. Just to be accepted for who we are."
Daniela (19) Rusland
"I’m here because I’m a lesbian and I love being surrounded by my community. The Gay Pride means being open and being visible. Do whatever you want and be happy that you are doing it. In Russia it is dangerous to be openly gay. I love it that I can be visible here."
Talia (38) and Anna (37) Tel Aviv
"Since we have our kids the Gay Pride is very important. Before it was not something we really needed. But that has changed recently. With us having kids and with all the changes going on in Israël society causing people and institutions to become more radical. Pride has become more important. It is amazing to be finally and for once be the majority. It is a really great feeling dancing in the streets. It never happens in Israël. We need more of this."
It is the 19th edition of the Tel Aviv Gay Pride. Israel. ('Despite the fact that same-sex marriage remains non-existent in the Israel, unmarried same-sex and opposite-sex couples in Israel have equal access to nearly all of the rights of marriage in the form of unregistered cohabitation status', wiki.).
Nontheless, everyone agrees that the Gay Pride is more important than ever.
Dutch journalist Babette Bakker (who just came out herself) made this photodoc for Zij aan Zij. It was her first Gay Pride and she loved it!