Israel sees slow but growing acceptance for gay Orthodox

TEL AVIV, Israel (RNS) Though never short on spectacle, this year's
annual gay pride festival was even more colorful with a parade float,
sponsored by Google, representing the country's religious gay and
lesbian communities.

Dressed in shorts and T-shirts bearing the words "Religious Pride
Community," the 20- and 30-somethings who accompanied the float on
Friday (June 10) smiled proudly if even a bit self-consciously when
onlookers did a double take or shouted, "Good for you!" 

While Israeli law forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation
in most areas of life, and gay soldiers can serve openly in the
military, the public at large is only beginning to accept the notion
that observant Jews can be both openly religious and openly gay.