Attracted a Record 180,000 Participants from Israel and Around the World
The 17th Tel-Aviv Pride Festival, taking place over the past week, was attended by over 180,000 people from Israel and abroad, proving to be the biggest ever in Israel's history. The festivities concluded with a record breakling march of100,000 participants. The parade’s theme "Tel Aviv Loves All Genders" marked the City’s all inclusive support and commitment of all LGBTI, with a special focus on the transgender community.
The event was launched by the Mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Ron Huldai, with guest of honor, Conchita Wurst, who performed “Rise Like a Phoenix,” her winning song from Eurovision 2014.
At the opening of the Parade, the Mayor, noted: "To the proud people of Tel Aviv, I am happy to stand before you and open this city's seventeenth Gay Pride Parade. We have been through a lot in the past seventeen years. We reached a different reality together in Tel Aviv and also throughout Israel. I want to say to all politicians that we have a lot of legislation to pass in order to promote and receive the LGBT community in Israel as a whole."
The community celebrated major strides in Israel for the transgender community, which included accomplishments in the judiciary, the Knesset (Parliament), army service and public arena.
Two new organizations dedicated to furthering the needs of the transgender community were established in the past year, to note that there is still more progress to be made. Hence positioning the transgender community at the forefront of Tel Aviv Pride 2015 fosters an important message.
Tel Aviv has in recent years become one of the world's leading LGBT tourist destinations.
Tel-Aviv has much to offer gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender tourists– a goirgoeus and loving community, tolerance and acceptance, warm weather, famous culinary scene and world-class nightlife.
For more information please visit: http://www.visit-tel-aviv.com/gayvibe