As the San Diego Pride event approaches, the ongoing controversy surrounding Kehlani’s performance has sparked significant debate.
The regional director of ADL San Diego, an American French Jewish immigrant and an unwavering ally of the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizes the importance of solidarity between marginalized groups.
In a poignant statement, he draws a parallel between the current situation and a strategic chess game, highlighting the perils of letting hate and division infiltrate communities that should naturally stand together.
The decision by various Jewish organizations, including ADL, to withdraw from the San Diego Pride events has resonated deeply.
Along with Mayor Todd Gloria’s choice to abstain from the festival, this reflects a larger issue beyond the artists involved: it hints at the weaponization of divisions within communities and the troubling normalization of antisemitism.
The director refrains from elaborating on the specific hurtful remarks made by Kehlani, specifically her description of Zionists, emphasizing that Zionism embodies the advocacy for Jewish self-determination.
He notes that a significant majority of Americans support this right, yet misunderstandings have proliferated in media narratives.
For decades, ADL has sought to educate communities about the troubling link between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, recognizing that contentious debates often overshadow the call for unity.
Each instance of changed hearts seems to be met with a wave of misinformation and extremist narratives that further alienate Jewish individuals and communities.
The threats encountered aren’t from within the communities—rather, they emerge from extremist factions, whether neo-Nazis or Hamas affiliates, who exploit divisions to undermine solidarity among groups that should collaborate.
The need for awareness is pressing; such groups aim to recruit individuals and propel their agenda by inciting conflict among vulnerable populations, realizing that disunity makes them easier to weaken.
Social media platforms’ declining moderation of hateful content exacerbates this trend, leaving communities exposed to divisive rhetoric that hinders progress toward healing.
Looking back, historical instances shed light on the systemic exclusion faced by Jewish voices within LGBTQ+ settings.
In 2017, three women carrying Star of David flags were ejected from a Chicago Pride march for advocating support for Zionism.
Similarly, a Washington, D.C. Pride march banned the use of Star of David flags in 2019, and instances of silencing pro-Israel LGBTQ+ voices proliferate at conferences.
The implications are clear: many face a false dichotomy, being unable to express their full identities within these spaces.
Despite instances of discrimination, extremists are simultaneously targeting both Jewish and LGBTQ+ individuals, employing hateful rhetoric that seeks to create divisions.
GLAAD reported a staggering number of anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in the United States in 2025 alone, underlining the rising threat to both communities.
The director posits that the solution to these escalating tensions doesn’t lie in further division or reactive measures.
Instead, there is a significant need for authentic dialogue to thrive within communities.
He challenges Pride leadership, sponsors, and participants to question whether they are willing to let extremist voices dictate the parameters of their celebration or foster a more inclusive environment.
Both San Diego’s Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities share common adversaries, rising hate and violence propagated by those who gain from sowing discord.
A call to action is issued for community leaders to create forums conducive to real dialogue, steering the narrative away from extremist agendas.
The pathway to collective healing entails embracing and creating space for multifaceted identities, rather than forcing individuals to choose between cultural associations or support for both Palestinians and Jews.
Healing requires rejecting the misconception that solidarity compromises personal safety.
The importance of forming coalitions is underscored—strengthening communities rather than fragmenting them will ultimately allow for progress and understanding.
Excluding Jewish voices from discourse does not promote Palestinian dignity; it instead advances agendas detrimental to the well-being of all marginalized communities.
The chess game of hate holds sway only when individuals cease to view one another as allies.
It is essential that Pride celebrations remain an affirmation of collective humanity rather than succumb to the pressures of division.
Together, communities can strategize against those who benefit from discord and ensure that their shared humanity triumphs over divisive narratives.
image source from：sandiegouniontribune
