A group of pro-Gaza protesters blocked the path of LGBT Pride marchers in Philadelphia, resulting in a not-so-brotherly standoff in the City of Brotherly Love. But in the end, they all agree that there's no pride in genocide.
On June 2, participants of the Philadelphia Pride Parade that celebrated homosexuality found themselves face-to-face with pro-Palestine demonstrators. The Pride parade had drag queens, transgender individuals and supporters waving the rainbow LGBT flag.
The parade began at Washington Square Park in Center City and went down Locust Street, passing by Walnut Street toward the Gayborhood – an eclectic neighborhood of gay bars, coffee shops and bookstores. It was set to end at the latter area, where food vendors and craft sellers were set up.
But at the corner of Locust Street and 11th Street, the pro-Palestine demonstrators showed up. Some of them were wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, which were popularized by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The presence of the pro-Gaza demonstrators left the Pride marchers befuddled, as they were unable to continue. (Related: Pride month is a cynical exercise in state-enforced homosexuality.)
Drummers for the Philadelphia Pride Parade wearing rainbow epaulets encountered other LGBT supporters who also joined the anti-Israel group. The pro-Gaza LGBT group waved Pride flags streaked with red paint and emblazoned with the words "No Pride in genocide," a reference to the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip at the hands of Israeli troops.
No violence was reported between the two groups, as officers from the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) were present at the scene to maintain order. Law enforcement blocked the Pride marchers from the pro-Palestine demonstrators.
Both groups eventually found common ground in their hatred of Israel. The Pride marchers chanted: "Palestine will live forever, from the sea to the river. Free, free Palestine."
In response, the pro-Gaza group chanted: "PPD, KKK, IOS – you're all the same." According to the New York Post, the KKK pertains to the White supremacist Ku Klux Klan while the IOF stood for Israel Occupation Forces, a mockery of the Israel Defense Forces.
But according to Breitbart News, "the protest highlights a growing tension between segments of the [Democratic] Party base who believe that anti-Israel protests should take [precedence] over other causes like LGBT activism."
Biggest Drag Queen Story Hour in Philadelphia sets new world record
A day before the Philadelphia Pride Parade and standoff, the City of Brotherly Love also became witness to a new world record – the biggest Drag Queen Story Hour.
On June 1, the city set a new record with more than 260 people attending the Drag Queen Story Time event at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia Mall. Guinness World Records (GWR) was present to certify the crowd size during the event. According to GWR adjudicator and spokesman Michael Empric – himself a member of the LGBT community – the drag reading event saw 263 people in attendance.
The event began with speeches by Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal and Celena Morrison-McLean, executive director of the city's Office of LGBT Affairs. Drag queen Brittany Lynn (born Ian Morrison) followed with a reading of the book "Hello, Philadelphia" by Martha Day Zschock. Another drag queen, Miss Aurora, read "'Twas the Night Before Pride" by Joanna McClintick.
"It shows you that we are one of the nation's most LGBT-friendly cities," said Segal. "Everybody combined – agencies, organizations and the general public – to set this record. We want to tell the rest of the world this is an inviting city, that no matter who you are, please come and visit Philadelphia."
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Watch this clip of the standoff between LGBT Pride marchers and pro-Gaza demonstrators in Philadelphia.
This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com.
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Former head of group that sponsors Drag Queen Story Hour arrested on child pornography charges.
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