Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema reports that there is no ban on carrying the Israeli flag during the Pride Walk organized by Queer Amsterdam on July 20. “The Pride Walk is a manifestation that falls under the right to demonstrate. However, freedom to demonstrate does not give the right to impose censorship on demonstrators. An organization can, therefore, not forbid people who want to participate to express themselves. It is unacceptable that people who want to carry a flag should not be allowed to do so,” said the mayor.
The foundation Queer Amsterdam announced on Instagram on Thursday that Israeli flags are not “allowed” at the Pride Walk through the center of Amsterdam. In response to questions about the flag ban, a spokesperson for the foundation referred AT5 to the website, which states that “no form of Zionism is tolerated.” VVD councilor Daan Wijnants has indicated that he wants to ask council questions in response to the call.
Being gay or trans is not dependent on being out or not.
And focusing on the LGBTQ aspect of Israels current onslaught is relevant to the extent that Israel actively propagandizes “spreading” gay rights in Gaza, while at the same time murdering LGBTQ individuals indiscriminately. The fact that pink washing is a strategy used to justify genocide makes it that much more important to reject this during pride.
