homosexuality and jerusalem

today is the gay pride parade in jerusalem. i think one occured one or two weeks ago in tel-aviv. people are not kidding when they say that tel-aviv and jerusalem are worlds apart even though they are just an hour away from each other by car. while tel-aviv tries hard to exude this european mediterranean city atmosphere, jerusalem really hasn't changed much in a long time, holding on to its roots with an iron grip. so while tel-aviv is more of the accepting variety, jerusalem is not so much. i am a part of the fan page of jerusalem on facebook. and in lieu of today's event, the maintainer posted that the gay pride parade was occurring today. this seemed to be a cause for outrage among the other fans of the page. people were writing how gays are going to hell; they don't want their kids to be exposed to this kind of behavior; the torah said it is abominable; how rude it was to defile the holiest city; how they should be focusing on gilad who has been missing for three years today; etc. i don't understand how people can think that homosexuality is a behavior that can be taught. total misconception and one that is ruling in california at the moment. i also think that using religion as a tool for spreading hate and uncompromising with the changing times, not that this is really a change... religion should serve as a guideline for life. it shouldn't be treated as something strict and unbending. i think it is a great thing that there is such an event occurring in the 'holiest of holy cities'. it is a shame that people still have a need to hide who they are. it is fascinating to me to see a place where men are more open with each other than women are, homophobia runs rampant. but i guess that is part of the idea of this area. people in jerusalem need to get their act together and stop discriminating and being so filled with hate and trying to form scapegoats for the problems of israel.