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News & Current Events Apr 22, 2026 at 1:23 AM

Israel announces a four day pride festival to be held at Dead Sea, the largest Pride Festival in Middle East history

Posted by WayOutbackBoy

Four day pride festival to be held at Dead Sea, largest in Middle East history | The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com
Four day pride festival to be held at Dead Sea, largest in Middle East history | The Jerusalem Post
“Pride Land is not just another festival," said the main producer and initiator of the festival, Aaron Cohen, "it's the biggest thing we've done here.”
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728766 Apr 22, 2026 +343
>the largest Pride Festival in Middle East history Well, I doubt anyone will dispute that. 
343
babybirdingURgrandma Apr 22, 2026 +76
Well I mean the entire Saudi monarchy wears dresses.  Just kidding homies pls don't bonesaw me
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FlyingRaccoon_420 Apr 22, 2026 +23
Too late. You have been invited to The Embassy
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Medical-Try-8986 Apr 22, 2026 +8
Refusal will result in bonesawing. 
8
Emotional-Dress8619 Apr 22, 2026 +27
not according to the bible,there was already one there long back
27
selotipkusut Apr 22, 2026 +16
It also said that they went out with a bam! Pillars of salt and whatnot
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Buddy_Here_Is_Birdie Apr 22, 2026 +48
At the Dead Sea? That should be pretty close to the site of the original Sodom.
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GaudyImpling Apr 22, 2026 +10
Mood
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Significant-Bother49 Apr 22, 2026 +89
In Middle East history, you say? Has any other country there had a pride festival?
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The_Fluffness Apr 22, 2026 +23
If I remember correctly there was a weird thing in Iraq back in like 2010? But I think it was like a US celebration of legal gay marriage maybe in the US? Not like a real pride event.
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IllystAnalyst Apr 22, 2026 +42
Everyone is joking about pride festivals in the middle east, while I’m surprised as hell that the Dead Sea still exists. Is there still enough water to call it a sea?
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Yuukiko_ Apr 22, 2026 +24
Iirc water only flows into it so probably?
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No_Ad_7687 Apr 22, 2026 +3
It's evaporating extremely quickly, still diminishing though 
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SpiritualB0x3 Apr 22, 2026 +18
I believe it’s shrinking and Israel looked into replenishing from the Red Sea or something
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StunningGold8030 Apr 22, 2026 +24
Red Dead Sea? I've played that game
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throwawayanno123 Apr 22, 2026 +12
Technically it's always a lake. 'sea' only in the name same as Aral 'Sea' as they both totally surrounded by land. At worst, it'll become Dead Sea salt flat.
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Roobsi Apr 22, 2026 +6
if you walk around the edges of the dead sea the land is collapsing. Apparently the salt works into the soil and crystallises, then when the sea recedes and leaves salt it erodes away with condensation and the like and leaves these huge sinkholes and crevasses around.
6
Present_Student4891 Apr 22, 2026 +44
Worked at Ein Gedi kibbutz overlooks the Desd Sea. It’s the world’s only inhabited UNESCO garden. Spent 2 months there. Heaven.
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Big_Assistance_1895 Apr 22, 2026 +14
My father worked there in the 50s
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Ecsta Apr 22, 2026 +67
It's a private company hosted event not "Israel announces". Also show me another place in the Middle East where you aren't murdered for it. Somehow listnook still turns that into Israel is bad.
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Gaminedes7 Apr 22, 2026 +88
>Somehow listnook still turns that into Israel is bad. Yeah it's almost like being LGBT friendly doesn't make you immune to criticism when you commit war crimes. Weird I've never seen anyone criticize Israel for being LGBT friendly on Listnook. It's all the other stuff they have an issue with
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TheGazelle Apr 22, 2026 +12
Right, but surely we can talk about a good thing that doesn't directly have anything to do with the state without bringing up what the state is doing, right? Like when June comes around and there are posts about Pride festivals all throughout the US, somehow I doubt people will try to argue it's perfectly reasonable to bring up Iran in that context.
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Gaminedes7 Apr 22, 2026 -4
The US doesn't usually use the "we're the good guys because we respect LGBTQ rights" argument as a shield for their foreign policy. If they did, you'd see people bring up foreign policy when discussing LGBTQ rights in the US. You don't see Spain saying they've had same sex marriage since 2005 when some (insane) people say they're allied with the IRGC. Props to Israel for supporting LGBTQ rights though.
-4
TheGazelle Apr 22, 2026 +7
>The US doesn't usually use the "we're the good guys because we respect LGBTQ rights" argument as a shield for their foreign policy Where do you see Israel doing this?
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snailorT Apr 22, 2026 +8
Go to the official Israel X account and search “gay”. You’ll find a plethora of examples.
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TheGazelle Apr 22, 2026
Ok? We're talking about this article.
0
snailorT Apr 22, 2026 +3
And I’m responding to your question “Where do you see Israel doing this?”
3
TheGazelle Apr 22, 2026 -1
Yes, so your reply is irrelevant. My question wasn't "where do you see Israel pink washing *literally ever under any context*". It was "where do you see Israel *doing anything that can be described as pink washing in relation to this story*". This is obvious to anyone with basic reading comprehension and an interest in good faith discussion. Which one do you struggle with here?
-1
snailorT Apr 22, 2026 +5
Oh so you’re just arguing for the sake of it, got it
5
Gaminedes7 Apr 22, 2026 +4
>Where do you see Israel doing this? When they're targeting a western audience. It was impossinle to avoid it in the October 6th aftermath. I doubt it's used for domestic consumption. It's widespread enough that it has a name: pinkwashing. Props to Israel because it works, I've definitely been more sympathetic to Israel in the past due to it.
4
AcanthaceaeUnited713 Apr 22, 2026 +17
No you see just host LGBTQ event and you get free voucher for war crimes 
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ProtectionUnable1027 Apr 22, 2026 +14
It is no longer safe to be a queer Jew in the larger lgbtq+ community. The antisemitism is chilling.
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A_Happy_Egg Apr 22, 2026 -11
If you equate criticism of the Israeli government and its policies to antisemitism then sure
-11
ComplexInside1661 Apr 22, 2026 +27
Nah, there's a huge issue of actual antisemiteism there as well
27
[deleted] Apr 22, 2026 +19
[deleted]
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Ultra_Metal Apr 23, 2026 -2
Israel didn't commit any war crimes. Israel's enemies do it all the time.
-2
TheGazelle Apr 22, 2026 +7
Yeah the "Israel announces" appears to just be OP's editorializing. The actual headline is basically just the rest of the title, then the first paragraph says "Israel is set host [...]"
7
Anyales Apr 22, 2026 -6
Murder tens of thousands of innocent civilians and suddenly noone gives you credit for allowing someone else to hold a concert. Its appalling
-6
mitoke Apr 22, 2026 -10
Where is anyone saying it’s bad?
-10
Sxualhrssmntpanda Apr 22, 2026 -6
I think Israel is pretty bad. I don't think they are bad FOR allowing a pride festival, i think they are bad WHILE allowing a pride festival.
-6
HatCat5566 Apr 22, 2026 +16
oof, i know a few thousand listnook leftists who are NOT going to be happy about this. They'll block 3 more pride parades in support of hating Jews.
16
New_Student1645 Apr 22, 2026 +4
Optimistically: cool that’s awesome Pessimistically: this may not end well
4
Epyr Apr 22, 2026 +71
They've had them in the past without issue.
71
Why_No_Doughnuts Apr 22, 2026 +51
Why would it not end well? Tel Aviv pride is one of the biggest in the world, and (other than that one year Taipei beat them) is consistently the largest in Asia.
51
New_Student1645 Apr 22, 2026 +13
The current war in the Middle East seeing daily attacks on Israel, and past attacks like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_music_festival_massacre
13
No_Ad_7687 Apr 22, 2026 +11
There are no big (hamas level) terrorist organizations in Jordan. It'll be fine
11
its_all_one_electron Apr 22, 2026 +8
Because they're currently in the middle of a war... Large gathering of people is not good
8
Cross_Toss Apr 23, 2026 +3
Let me tell you about Independence Day celebrations
3
its_all_one_electron Apr 23, 2026 +1
Those gatherings are individualized to local areas. Most people don't go that far, you know this. This pride celebration is going to have probably a tens or hundreds of thousands of people in one place. 
1
Cross_Toss Apr 23, 2026 +2
The celebration I was at was organized by city council and had over 20k people
2
its_all_one_electron Apr 23, 2026 +1
I'm aware, but Israel said this would be the largest pride event in the middle east ever. Which means bigger than tel aviv pride at 100k. No idea how they're gonna fit that many people there but 100k lgbt and allies in the middle of the desert is a much bigger target and much easier to attack than some random town square in Holon or wherever. 
1
faffc260 Apr 22, 2026 +17
they've had smaller ones before without issue. unless iran decides to missile strike it they'll likely be fine.
17
nonlawyer Apr 22, 2026
that’s a pretty big “unless” tho
0
Ultra_Metal Apr 23, 2026 +2
Meanwhile, many LGBTQ people in the West support far right terrorist groups that murder and torture LGBTQ people. They are betraying their own values.
2
Eight-Sage Apr 24, 2026 +1
Sodom 2.0 is back in business!
1
RandyWatson8 Apr 22, 2026 -23
Feel like MAGA Israel supporters heads might explode with this one
-23
killerkingbee9 Apr 22, 2026 +73
Feel like 'LGBT for Gaza' and most Ivy League students' heads might explode with this one. 
73
FluidHips Apr 22, 2026 -35
Remarkably progressive murderers.
-35
Dude-Good Apr 22, 2026 -36
Yea if I was gay no way in hell I would go..
-36
No_Ad_7687 Apr 22, 2026 +9
It'll be hot as hell but it sounds fun
9
doctorsynaptic Apr 22, 2026 +35
Tel Avivs pride is considered one of the best pride festivals in the world.
35
[deleted] Apr 22, 2026 -23
[deleted]
-23
maorcules Apr 22, 2026 +4
There are traps there if u into that
4
4d3fect Apr 22, 2026 -32
Rainbow washing 
-32
mitoke Apr 22, 2026 -27
It very much is. While gay rights are abysmal in the region, I do think, with the way they tout it out, it’s meant to do just this.
-27
728766 Apr 22, 2026 +50
Tel Aviv Pride has been happening since 1979. 
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mitoke Apr 22, 2026 -31
How does that change anything? Or did you think I’m referring to just what’s going on now? If so, I’m not.
-31
darth_aardvark Apr 22, 2026 +10
Are you seriously suggesting they were "rainbow washing" in 1979? Like there was some political or economic benefit to appearing lgbt friendly in 19 f****** 79?
10
alex8155 Apr 22, 2026 -39
call it the sitting duck festival
-39
Marsupialmania Apr 22, 2026 -65
Probably by intention
-65
unclear_warfare Apr 22, 2026 -34
Didn't Turkey host a big one too? Maybe this is bigger. Either way the coverage will be: look at us, we're all modern and cuddly and progressive, you don't need to worry about all the murders we just committed
-34
platinumarks Apr 22, 2026 +14
Hey, it worked for Hamas
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unclear_warfare Apr 22, 2026 -10
What did? For all their crimes, I would never accuse them of attempting to be cuddly
-10
[deleted] Apr 22, 2026 -101
[removed]
-101
RushPrime Apr 22, 2026 +67
Damned if they do, damned if they don’t. You guys just badly want innocent people to die to fuel your unhinged conspiracy theories.
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AcrobaticSecretary29 Apr 22, 2026 +65
Unhinged 
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[deleted] Apr 22, 2026 -59
[deleted]
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arc_oobleck Apr 22, 2026 -46
Wouldn't be the first time, and Jordan is in the way of a greater isreal.
-46
IfICode Apr 23, 2026 -1
This has got to be the funniest way to try and gain favor with the west
-1
Cross_Toss Apr 23, 2026 +5
Israel has had large Pride Parades for a while
5
Unconsuming Apr 22, 2026 -16
Pinkwashing spotted
-16
No_Ad_7687 Apr 22, 2026 +7
Orrr maybe countries aren't just "good" or "evil"
7
Unconsuming Apr 22, 2026 -16
Nah, countries are just ideas, and some of them are anything but bad ideas. And besides that, we have Israel.
-16
No_Ad_7687 Apr 22, 2026 +11
Oh, in that case I'll just stop believing in China. Yay! Hong Kong is free!
11
Unconsuming Apr 22, 2026 -13
I'm sorry you would be dissapointed. It doesn't work in this way. Ideas aren't only wistful thinking. Anyway, HK wasn't free beforehand.
-13
TheUnchosenWon Apr 22, 2026 -12
Isreal is the best they need to own the middle east.
-12
AromaticMacaron7925 Apr 22, 2026 -8
Incoming false flag.
-8
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