Rome Pride criticised after banning Italy’s only Jewish LGBT+ group

WorldPolitics
28 May 2026 • 9:45 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Rome Pride criticised after banning Italy’s only Jewish LGBT+ group

  • Rome Pride has barred Italy's only Jewish LGBT+ group, Keshet Italia, from its upcoming annual parade on 20 June.
  • The exclusion was due to Keshet Italia's failure to explicitly condemn Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide, which Rome Pride stated is a requirement for groups wishing to have a float.
  • Rome Pride clarified that while it distinguishes between the Israeli government and the Jewish community, having a float signifies adherence to its political platform, which includes a clear stance on the 'ongoing genocide in Gaza'.
  • Keshet Italia protested its exclusion, stating that Rome Pride 'dropped the mask' and admitted to barring them for not passing a 'political exam'.
  • The European Jewish Congress also condemned the decision, arguing that participation in a movement founded on inclusion should not be conditional on accepting specific narratives or undergoing an 'ideological test'.

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