For a long time – and particularly since October 7th – Jews have felt the need to keep their heads down. Hide their identities. Not make a fuss. Not draw too much attention to themselves.
It’s a state of being that LGBTQ+ people should recognise all too well. Many spent years in the closet, locking away a part of themselves, watching every mannerism, obsessing over every slip-up. Don’t be too camp. Don’t be too Jewish. Watch what I say, watch how I say it – the slang, the gestures, the small tells that could give me away.
For many LGBTQ+ Jews, the outpouring of antisemitism since October 7th has come as a profound shock. Some who were rejected by their own families are now finding themselves rejected by their chosen ones too. A community that prides itself on diversity and tolerance has become unwelcoming. Venues, promoters, drag queens, clubs, and so-called “safe spaces” have engaged in blood libel, Holocaust inversion, and outright antisemitism, forcing Jews out – or back into the closet.
Pride should be the antithesis of this. Come as you are and celebrate it. But for the second year running, there will be no Jewish representation in the parade. Pride in London has shown itself to be at best indifferent to the concerns of LGBTQ+ Jews and at worst actively hostile – refusing even the most basic request for antisemitism training for its stewards. An organisation this year themed around “Embracing Every Shade: Celebrating Diversity Together” will have no Jewish representation. “A home for every part of London’s LGBTQ+ community” – except the Jews.
That is why The Hineni Project was set up: to tackle this silence. The spread of antisemitism in LGBTQ+ spaces has gone unanswered for too long, and we are committed to leading the fight back.
That starts this year at Pride with our Jewish Pride Party on Broadwick Street. While many are determined to force Jews out of Pride, we are determined to provide a safe space where LGBTQ+ Jews can celebrate both sides of their identity. Building on last year’s event, we hope the wider community will join us in solidarity as we show that LGBTQ+ Jews are defiant. We refuse to be erased. We refuse to be forced back into the closet. The first stage of fighting back is embracing our identity and celebrating it.
Jewish Pride means being proud LGBTQ+ people, proud Jews, and proud of both sides of our identity. We refuse to hide when we have so much to be proud of: the huge contribution LGBTQ+ Jews have made to the fight for equal rights; Israel as the only country in the Middle East with a Pride parade; the incredible activists fighting back against antisemitism; and the defiant Jews standing tall when others would pull them down.
This year, we refuse to be excluded – but we also refuse to let our light be dimmed by those who hate us. We will not let anti-Jewish racists ruin our celebrations or our London Pride. We will be bigger, more visible, and more proud than ever before.
Our event will be a celebration of our identity, Jewish Pride. Jewish Joy.
Here we are: dancing again!
Jewish Pride will be held on Saturday 5th July between 2pm & 5pm on Broadwick Street, W1F 8HW.St
The Hineni Project exists to mobilise the LGBTQ+ community in the fight against antisemitism in all its forms.
