The organizers of Rome Pride (Roma Pride) have denied the Jewish LGBT organizations Keshet Italia and Keshet Europe the right to present their platform at the parade, which will take place on June 20. The reason was the activists’ refusal to distance themselves from Israel’s policies and condemn the military operation in the Gaza Strip, Reports The Jerusalem Post.
A brief overview of the situation:
Participation in the parade was conditional on the adoption of a political manifesto. The Roma Pride document explicitly refers to Israel's actions as "genocide" and calls for the recognition of Palestine as a free and sovereign state.
The organizers cited "ideological alignment." According to representatives of Roma Pride, only those who share their political values are allowed to participate. They emphasized that they do not hold the Jewish community responsible for the government’s actions, but they do blame Keshet Italia for the group’s “refusal to distance itself from the genocide.”
Jewish activists called this anti-Semitism. Keshet Italia stated that “anti-Semitism disguised as a political stance is still anti-Semitism,” and emphasized that excluding minorities runs counter to the very idea of Pride.
Italian politicians and communities have condemned this decision. The Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) called the organizers’ demands an “ideological test.” European Parliament Vice President Pina Picerno stated that “ideological purity has always been a terrible guide to collective freedoms.”
Context
The conflict between Keshet Italia and the organizers of Pride events in Italy has been going on for several years. According to the organization, at the 2024 parade (the source states 2025; this is likely a typo or refers to future plans), participants carrying rainbow flags featuring the Star of David were booed and called “murderers.” Due to security concerns and a hostile atmosphere, the group had previously declined to participate in Pride parades in Milan and Bologna.
Keshet Europe noted that using public platforms to delegitimize Jewish LGBT voices crosses a line beyond which dialogue turns into hostility. Activists insist on their right to participate in the movement “unconditionally and without fear,” while remaining openly Jewish.
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