Around 50 LGBTQ members of the Jewish community and their allies gathered on June 22 for a Pride Minyan in downtown Cincinnati before the Cincinnati Pride Parade.
The Saturday pride minyan was held downtown as a way for Jewish members of the LGTBQ community to still safely participate in pride after two Jewish Cincinnati Pride Board members resigned following a doxxing and antisemitic harassment campaign by Cincinnati Socialists and DivestCinciPride due to their support of Israel.
The service, led by Rabbi Meredith Kahan and Rabbi Zach Goodman and held close to the Pride parade, provided a spiritual gathering to support Jewish LGBTQ community members.
At one point during the service, congregants got out of their seats and began dancing in the aisles.
The Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Relations Council also prepared participants attending Pride festivities for potential encounters with antisemitism.
The JCRC passed out fliers with examples of the sort of images or fliers members of the community might see during the parade. According to the flier, it was important to look out for “Anything comparing the Israel-Hamas conflict to the Holocaust, use of swastikas, Nazi imagery/language.”
The JCRC also passed out a one-sheet on avoiding confrontation, de-escalating techniques, and handling incidents.
“It’s imperative that we avoid engaging with protestors,” said Rabbi Ari Jun, director of the JCRC. “They may try to target or provoke us, but don’t take the bait.”
As the service ended, the group split in two. Some of those in attendance went and found a spot to watch the parade, while the majority went with members of the Jewish Federation to walk in the pride parade.
Around 25 community members made their way to the parade setup. Many were decked out in pride gear, including a shirt from the federation that read “spread hummus, not hate.”
Ilan Goldman even brought the new Jewish LGBTQ pride flag, made by the organization A Wider Bridge. This was Goldman’s first time at Cincinnati Pride, and it felt even more important to come this year in light of the forced resignation of two Jewish members of the pride board.
“I was very upset[about the forced resignation], and I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to participate, but then I thought about it, and after a lot of thoughts, I figured that we cannot afford to stay away, “ he said.
Ilan Goldman (photo by Aaron Binik Thomas)
Marchers were met with cheers and celebration throughout most of the parade route. There were a few instances of cardboard signs accusing Israel of genocide. There was one reported incidence of someone shouting “Occupier” as Jewish Cincinnati walked by. And pro-Palestinian crowd members joined the parade and ran down the length of the parade with a cardboard sign accusing P&G, Cincinnati Pride’s corporate sponsor, of supporting genocide.
For Jun, showing up this year was more important than in years past. LGBTQ Jews have faced rising tensions at pride over the past several years. This year, it reached a peak in Cincinnati and many pride festivals around the country because of the Israel-Hamas War.
“There are really two strategies in a situation like this: Either back off and say, we’re not wanted so we’re going home, or you can say, [LGBTQ Jews] that we need to support despite all of the hate that has been infused in this moment,” he said. “And we decided to take the latter route. Even though there’s a small minority of people who would, painfully, like to push Jews out of society, we’re not gonna let it happen.”
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I don’t live in Cincinnati but I have Jewish family there and keep up on local events. I too was very upset by the Pride resignations of the two Jewish board members. I even contacted Cincy Pride about it as a concerned individual. Now, I want to thank your group for marching in the parade, and even for watching the parade from the sidelines. From your article, we can all see that the pro-Palestine faction isn’t going to stop and they’re not going to stop with Pride, as evidenced by the sign protesting P&G at the parade. Stay strong! I am with you!!!! Thank you!!!!!
While I understand the desire to avoid confrontation for personal safety, keeping a low profile didn’t get us anywhere with the Cossacks or the Nazis. We also need some chutzpah, calling them out on their bigotry. For example, I confronted the folks with a Palestinian flag and told them that they weren’t pro-Palestinian enough.
“Oh?” they responded.
I explained further. “If you really want to show your support, go to the source. Go to Ramallah, right to the town square, and wave your Rainbow flag there. Or better yet, go right up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and wave it in front of the Al Aqsa Mosque. Believe me, you will be amazed by the reception that you get.”
“That’s disgusting,” one of them spat.
“Do you know what’s really disgusting? Your antisemitic bigotry.” With that, I walked away.
A moment later, a fellow Jew thanked me for confronting them so boldly.