Bar-Ilan University came under heavy criticism Wednesday following a report that its administrators had denied a request to hold a rally to mark Gay Pride Week. A student advocacy group promoting gay rights said it had been informed that it was being prohibited from holding the event in its preferred venue, a central location on campus where student-led events and performances are regularly held. The group said the university was willing to hold an academic event inside one of the buildings. It reportedly told them it could facilitate the event by sending "rabbis and psychologists to help the participants," although the university denied that claim. The student group, which is affiliated with the university's student union and Aguda, the Israel National LGBT Task Force, filed an official request on June 22 with the university's administrators. This Tuesday, its leader, Omer Machluf, met with the dean of students, Professor Uri Nir, who informed him of the university's veto. He also noted that they would not be allowed to distribute pamphlets and said no outside organization would be allowed to take part. Nir added that all the speakers would have to be cleared with the university. In a conversation with Haaretz, university spokesman Haim Zisowitz said the group's request was rejected because it clashed with the religious values the university promotes. "And what if a group of pedophiles would have asked to hold a rally-" Zisowitz asked, according to Haaretz. He later clarified that this was not the university's official response. "I made those comments as part of a background briefing, and before I could release an official statement," he said. "My point was that an event that runs against the grain of Halachah [Jewish law] in a religious university was like holding an outright illegal event [in other institutions]," Zisowitz said. "As a example of an illegal event, I mentioned a pedophile rally. Although I never compared homosexual acts to pedophilia, some interpreted it that way, and I apologize for the example I chose." Machluf, who still hopes to have the event approved, said it was "extremely important to hold the event outside, because there are many LGBT students at Bar-Ilan University who are still trying to figure out their sexual identity and get out of the closet." Machluf said the student dean tried to convince him to accept the university's proposal. He said the university insisted its offer was honorable, but Machluf turned it down, saying that he and his fellow activists planned the rally because of its added value to the gay community. "I told him we had no interest in turning the event into a therapy session or using it for psychological counselling," Machluf said. "I told him I was extremely disappointed." The head of the Bar-Ilan Student Union, Gilad Arditi, sided with Machluf, saying he expected "a respected university such as Bar-Ilan find a proper a fair formula that would allow student advocacy groups to operate." The university issued a statement Wednesday, saying: "The requested event was devoid of academic context, nor was it germane to student affairs. In keeping with the university's religious character, the administrators informed the students that it would approve the event if it was held in one of the auditoriums on campus and remained academic in nature. Unlike what has been reported by the students, the university did not offer rabbis or psychologists 'to help the participants,' it only extended an offer to help them facilitate the event." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement Wednesday to mark this week's LGBT events, which include the annual parade in Tel Aviv. "As Pride Week continues, I want to send my blessing to the LGBT community," Netanyahu wrote on his Facebook page. "I am proud that Israel is among the most open countries in the world. The struggle for every person to be recognized as equal before the law is a long struggle and there is still a long way to go." President Reuven Rivlin echoed Netanyahu's comments while hosting an event for LGBT Pride Month at his official residence in Jerusalem. During the event, Rivlin met representatives of Israeli Gay Youth, a movement that promotes gay rights. He expressed his support for their cause and congratulated them on their first visit to the President's Residence.
