Pride organisers reject anti-Semitism training
Pride's refusal to accept the training for its staff prompted fears among Jewish gay, lesbian and trans people that they would be targeted by pro-Palestine activists on Saturday over Israel's role in the Gaza conflict.
This is the second year running that Jewish LGBT groups have turned their backs on the Pride celebrations, which have been running in London for more than half a century.
Fears for the safety of Jewish gay, lesbian and trans participants follow repeated pro-Palestine demonstrations throughout the country since Oct 7, at which allegedly anti-Semitic banners and placards have been displayed.
The Jewish LGBT charity KeshetUK had offered to hold training for Pride stewards to raise awareness about potentially anti-Semitic behaviour.
A source told The Telegraph: 'The charity's requests for anti-Semitism training for Pride stewards were rejected, despite the training being offered free of charge and in the context of rising tensions and security threats against Jewish communities.
'Many Jewish LGBTQ+ people report feeling increasingly unwelcome in queer spaces since the October 7th terrorist attack in Israel.'
A number of LGBT venues and festivals have stated publicly that Zionists are not welcome since Israel launched its military response to the Oct 7 massacres by Hamas.
Jewish groups say that effectively excludes most Jewish queer people, as recent polling by Campaign Against Antisemitism shows 80 per cent of British Jews identify as Zionists, defined as supporting Jewish self-determination in Israel.
As a result of the boycott of the official London Pride celebrations, Jewish LGBT groups are hosting their own events this weekend.
The Hineni Project stepped in to organise a Jewish Pride Street Party in Soho's Broadwick Street on Saturday afternoon, saying it wanted to 'provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies to celebrate Pride while feeling secure to express themselves as LGBTQ+, Jewish, and proud Zionists'.
A spokesman for The Hineni Project said: 'As Jewish groups are once again excluded from the main Pride parade, we are creating a space where LGBTQ+ Jews and allies can celebrate who we are safely and proudly. This isn't just about visibility – it's about our right to belong.'
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