Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Executive Director of European Affairs Shannon Seban issued the following statement on Wednesday after organizers of the upcoming Rome Pride Parade decided to ban two Jewish groups for failing to “distance” themselves from the “ongoing genocide in Gaza”:
We strongly condemn the exclusion of Jewish LGBTQ+ groups Keshet Italia and Keshet Europe from the Rome Pride parade.
When Pride excludes Jews, it betrays Pride itself.
This decision is blatant antisemitism. It transforms an event meant to celebrate inclusion and diversity into a platform for political exclusion and hostility toward Jews.
No community should be forced to renounce its identity or its connection to its homeland in order to march in a Pride parade. Jewish LGBTQ+ individuals have every right to participate without censorship or ideological loyalty tests.
The weaponization of Pride against Jews is unacceptable. Antisemitism has no place in the LGBTQ+ movement.
We stand firmly with Keshet Italia and Keshet Europe. We call on the organizers of Rome Pride to immediately reverse this discriminatory decision and uphold the values of inclusion they claim to represent.
We also call on the Mayor of Rome and the Municipality of Rome to take a clear public stand and unequivocally denounce this exclusion.
The exclusion of Jewish LGBTQ+ groups Keshet Italia and Keshet Europe from the Rome Pride parade is a shame. When Pride excludes Jews, it betrays Pride itself.
We call on the organizers of Rome Pride and the Mayor of Rome to immediately reverse this discriminatory decision.… pic.twitter.com/z2BnW1Q0Kx
— Shannon Seban (@ShannonSeban) May 27, 2026
