Rainbow in the desert: Israel's first gay pride event in the Negev

While over at JoeMyGod there have been 70+ comments on the banning of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid from Pride parades in Canada, in Be'er Sheva, Israel's third largest city, in the Negev desert, held its first official Pride event, officiated by the city's mayor.
Oh yes, the religious right went bat shit crazy. But the mayor stood his ground and even put city funds into the event. Because Israel is a secular democracy.
The New Israel Fun reports that: there are plans to create a LGBT teen hang-out in Be'er Sheva—an open house for young people in search of support and community.  Local activists will work toward making the festival an annual event and bringing it 'out' with a high-profile parade.

Shai Gortler, a gay activist wants to see the LGBT community work with and on behalf of other marginalized communities in Israel such as Arabs, people with disabilities and manual laborers.  "No one is free if not everyone is free," he says. 

Yasher Koach.