Article By Jon Brown
The official X account of Israel, which is run by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, promoted an upcoming four-day LGBTQ+ pride festival in June at the Dead Sea, which some detractors on social media noted is the traditional location of Sodom and Gomorrah.
“Pride rises at the lowest place on earth,” the Monday post read. “This June the Dead Sea becomes Pride Land, the biggest LGBTQ+ festival ever in the Middle East. Four days of nonstop celebration community and connection. Israel celebrates its LGBTQ+ community bigger than ever.”
Pride rises at the lowest place on earth 🌈 This June the Dead Sea becomes Pride Land, the biggest LGBTQ+ festival ever in the Middle East. Four days of nonstop celebration community and connection.
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) April 20, 2026
Israel celebrates its LGBTQ+ community bigger than ever 💙 pic.twitter.com/JxqjQGNB7z
“Pride Land,” which is slated to celebrate LGBT behavior from June 1-4, will transform a part of the Judaean Desert near the Dead Sea into a 24-hour city with 15 hotels, beach facilities and a central performance arena that will host continuous entertainment from prominent Israeli performers, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The event will also purportedly provide family-friendly areas with activities for children, as well as workshops for families.
Aaron Cohen, who is the main producer and initiator of the event, told the outlet that the scale of the festival is unprecedented.
“This is not just another festival, it’s the biggest thing we’ve done here,” he said.
“We chose to grow. To take an investment of millions, purchase entire hotels for four days, and build a city from scratch in the middle of the desert. It’s an experience that lives 24/7, from quiet visits to nights of pride, with a living envelope of music and people,” he added.
The promotion of the event by Israel’s official X account prompted significant backlash on social media, including from Christians who saw the event’s location as an affront to God and a mockery of the Bible.
Some users pointed out that the southern region of the Dead Sea has traditionally been considered the site of Sodom, Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain that God destroyed with fire and brimstone because of their rampant sexual perversion, according to Genesis 19.
“Why here? They are mocking God,” said Father Michael Lillie, a priest at Nativity of Christ Orthodox Church in Youngstown, Ohio.
Libertarian commentator Josie Glabach echoed Lillie, writing, “From the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah, we’re reminded once again why Pride is a deadly sin. This is a mockery of God.”
“This is going on despite war restrictions?” asked conservative influencer Jack Posobiec, who is Roman Catholic.
“Can anyone very carefully explain to me why American Christians owe anything to this?” asked BlazeTV host Auron MacIntyre.
“We are living in the End Times,” said evangelist Sean Feucht, along with a sick emoji.
The Pride Land event comes as Israel attempts to revitalize its flagging tourism amid the war against Iran and its proxies in the region. The U.S. State Department has advised Americans to avoid the country because of ongoing threats and civil unrest, according to the New York Post.
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