Some 25,000 Israelis, including dozens of Knesset members, marched in Jerusalem’s Gay Pride Parade on July 21. They were taking part in much more than a heart-warming show of strength by the LGBTQ community. More than ever, it was a demonstration of enlightened liberalism. At the largest gay pride parade that Jerusalem has ever seen, it was a comforting final note after a very harsh week for the LGBTQ community.

It all began with a July 13 speech by Rabbi Yigal Levenstein, the head of the pre-military service yeshiva in the settlement of Eli, in which he called gays and lesbians “perverts.” These disparaging and insulting remarks, made by the head of an influential educational institution, were surprising not only in their crassness, but also because they were made openly, at a public conference. Then came a letter in support of Levenstein signed by 300 prominent rabbis. It was suddenly obvious that despite the enormous progress that Israel’s gay community has made over the past few years in the struggle for equal rights, there is still a long way to go.

One positive surprise was the response by politicians from across the political spectrum denouncing Levenstein’s comments. They included the chairman of the right-wing Orthodox HaBayit HaYehudi, Education Minister Naftali Bennett. His rejection of Levenstein's remarks was especially important, because it gave voice to a tense debate within the religious Zionist community. Bennett had most probably chosen his words carefully when saying, “You cannot call an entire community derogatory names and hide behind [Jewish law]. … What was said is unacceptable to me. … That is not our way.”

In addition to Bennett, several Orthodox-Zionist rabbis joined the pushback against Levenstein's statement, vehemently condemning it. Rabbi Benny Lau, a leading Orthodox-Zionist figure, harshly criticized Levenstein, warning that his words could have dangerous repercussions for some young boys. He said that a young gay yeshiva student had tried to commit suicide following similar comments Levenstein made in the past.