BICOM

As Tel Aviv celebrates Gay Pride week, the UK is set to make history by joining today’s parade with a float honouring LGBT families, the first time a British diplomatic mission has participated in this way anywhere in the world.

The British Embassy has been involved in a variety of special events during Pride Week, in cooperation with the Tel Aviv Municipality, but the centrepiece will be a specially designed float, shaped like a vintage wooden sailing ship with union jack flags painted with the slogan “Love is Great” from the UK Government’s “Great” campaign.

The UK float is due to be last in the parade and Ambassador David Quarrey will travel on it with his husband Aldo Henrique.

Yaniv Weizman, from Tel Aviv City Council confirmed that the British float was also the first international float in the history of the Tel Aviv parade. He said it was “symbolic that in the year that we are celebrating 100 years since the signing of the Balfour Declaration, the British ambassador in Israel declares his deep commitment and cooperation with the world of values that the city of Tel Aviv represents”.

Ambassador David Quarrey said:  “Britain is proud to support pluralism, and we believe everyone deserves equality, security and pride.”

200,000 people are expected to march in today’s 19th Pride parade that traverses the centre of Tel Aviv and parts of the beach promenade. 30,000 tourists have travelled for the event in a potential £31m boost to the Tel Aviv economy.