Israeli university backtracks on Pride ban
Bar-Ilan University have reversed their decision to ban a Pride event.
Bar-Ilan University blocked a student Pride event and in a meeting with the university’s LGBT group, the school dean said they could instead hold “a respectable event in which there are various speakers, such as psychologists and rabbis, who can offer the participants help.”
The reversed this decision this decision today, saying in a statement: “The event will take place with regard to the university’s special character.”
Universtiy spokesman sparked controversy by comparing the event with one celebrating paedophilia.
He said: “Holding a demonstration is saying that we are in favour. On the contrary, and don’t misunderstand me, but if a group were to come and say ‘We believe in paedophilia, in allowing sex with minors, and we want to hold a happening’”
He clarified this today by saying: “Here I made a mistake. As an example of a crime, I mentioned paedophilia. I could have used as an example (in the spirit of the times) illegal gambling or drug use. For some reason, I chose pedophilia.
“The example I gave of a legal violation was stupid in this context. I apologize for using it. But to anyone who would have heard the conversation it would be clear that I was not comparing.”
