Proud Parents

Yesterday was Tel Aviv's annual pride parade. Every year, tens of thousands of people from across Israel and the world come together to the Meir Garden to celebrate. What are they celebrating? Everything.

As I walked through the countless stands on both sides of the central walkway, I saw countless organizations, each representing a different group in the community- veteranarians, religious people, families, divorcees, education, english speakers, political parties, youth, social activists and more. None of these groups are any different than any of us- we all can identify with the aforementioned- but these groups had one commonality between them- they were all representing the gay community. 

As I looked closer, I began seeing the groups that reminded me of the struggles still faced by this vibrant and colorful community- advertisements for surrogacy programs, bumper stickers being passed out saying "I also want to get married", and a booth for transgender men and women, who suffer more than you think.

 I began to think about the article I read this morning about an American Christian family and their ultimate price for not fully accepting their gay son- his life. To everyone in this park there is a mother or a father. Some have been kicked out of their homes for being gay, some are still hiding their reality from their parents, and some may feel that today is the only day where they can dress up or put on a costume and let their true colors show.

Parents reaching out

Amongst the sea of young people, a group of older men and women catch my eye, holding their signs proud and high. As I came closer and understood who they were- TEHILA, a non-profit as a support network for parents and family members. (www.tehila.org.il)  These were mothers and fathers of children who had come out and were there to make a statement: Our children deserve equality, justice and acceptance. If only all parents understood the importance that their support and love means to their children. I choked back my tears and expressed my gratitude for the parents of gay children who were out in the open supporting them. 

I snapped a few photos and went back to sit on a distant bench.  As I sat on the sidelines and observed the celebration of the LGBT community, I can't help but believe that this whole thing is made possible by the mothers and fathers here and everywhere, who hold their head high and say out loud  "I love my child, I am proud of my child, and I am here to show my support". If seeing this as a straight woman brings me to tears, I can't imagine the feelings of those who so desperately need their love and support.

As I made my way out of the park, I overheard two young men in conversation. The first one said "I'm going over to TEHILA (the stand)". The second young man asked "why?", and the first replied "to wish my mother 'Mazal Tov'".