- The controversial Queers4Palestine disrupted Sunday’s Pride parade in Philly
- During the kick-off event, the group clashed with members of its own community
Protesters for Free Palestine clashed with members of the LGBTQ+ community in Philadelphia as they attempted to kick off Pride month with a parade on Sunday.
In one of several videos posted online documenting the incident, a wave of Pride protesters in colorful outfits, beating drums, are stopped along their parade route by a group of pro-Palestinian members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Some wore keffiyehs, others wore leather belts and vests, the pro-Palestinian crowd stopped the parade route to shout and shout at members of their own community.
A poster painted with a rainbow flag read: ‘No Pride in Genocide’, which could have implied that it is not appropriate to celebrate Pride month in the normal way while the conflict in the Middle East is still raging.
The protest was carried out by Queers4Palestine, a minority faction within the queer community that has been extremely vocal over the past eight months about the intersection of what they believe is the structural oppression of Palestinians and the historical prejudices their community faces.
Some wore keffiyehs, others wore leather belts and vests, the pro-Palestinian crowd stopped the parade route to shout and shout at members of their own community
Reports of the disrupted Philly parade show that demonstrators chanted, “The more you try to silence us, the louder we will be!” in addition to the more standard ‘From the river to the sea’ phrases.
One protest leader, wearing a very short crop top, cargo pants that exposed his underwear, and a keffiyeh, told the crowd, “Pride as we know it cannot be separated from our current political and economic climate. Pride celebrations have become just a PR tool.”
A relatively common question hurled at pro-Palestinian protesters is why they are so vocal in their support for a culture and people who completely reject their way of life.
LGBTQ+ people and sexual activity between men remain criminalized in Gaza.
Observers of these protests, especially those that pit seemingly different members of one community against each other, are always quick to question the logic of LGBTQ+ support for the Palestinian cause.
“I’d love to see them organize a parade in Gaza… amazing cognitive dissonance,” says one X user responded to images of the collision.
“You should march in Gaza,” wrote another.
And another said: “QueersforPalestine has changed their mind,” followed by smiling faces.
Conservative commentator Clay Travis analyzed the situation, saying, “Pro Palestinian protesters blocking the Philly Pride Parade are a perfect distillation of left-wing politics. This is where it inevitably ends: with two left-wing interest groups clashing in an Olympics standoff over oppression.”
Queers4Palestine is a minority faction within the queer community that has been extremely vocal over the past eight months about the intersection of what they believe is the structural oppression of Palestinians and the historical prejudices their community faces.
A large man in a leather vest and cap stopped a large group of women in colorful outfits playing drums as they tried to continue their parade route
A poster painted with a rainbow flag read: ‘No Pride in Genocide’, which may have implied that it is not appropriate to celebrate Pride month normally while the conflict in the Middle East is still raging.
Meanwhile, as Pride month kicked off in the Big Apple, the Israel Parade was largely untouched by pro-Palestinian protesters.
Additional security was provided for the march to Fifth Avenue, although no specific or credible threats were made prior to the annual parade.
New York Mayor Eric Adams, who has been a staunch supporter of Israel since the war with Hamas broke out on October 7, attended the parade and said: “Our message is extremely clear. Destroy Hamas, bring the hostages home. Let us bring peace so that we do not lose lives of innocent people.”
He also noted that the loudest voices, that is, the pro-Palestinian protesters who have caused varying degrees of chaos in his city over the past eight months, are not the majority.
Most people, he said, support Israel and support the Jewish community.