Cultural and international politics collided this week after a contingent of Israeli gays from Tel Aviv was pointedly barred from participating in an upcoming gay pride march because their home city’s officials haven’t condemned last month’s flotilla raid near Gaza. A spokesperson for the city of Tel Aviv gives his displeased response after the jump. –KA

The Guardian:

“After what has happened, and as human rights campaigners, it seemed barbaric to us to have them taking part,” explained Antonio Poveda, of Spain’s Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transexuals and Bisexuals. “We don’t just defend out own little patch.”

The Tel Aviv group have reacted angrily to the decision, claiming that the Madrid activists were getting their priorities wrong by mixing the nine flotilla deaths with gay pride.

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