Citing recent attacks on Jews in Boulder, Colorado, a group of high-profile San Diego-based Jewish organizations say they’re withdrawing from the city’s upcoming LGBTQ+ Pride festivities, citing the presence of singer/songwriter Kehlani as a headliner.
Kehlani, who uses they/them pronouns, is a vocal supporter of the Palestinian resistance movement. Kehlani’s 2024 music video for the song “Next 2 U” opens with the message “LONG LIVE THE INTIFADA,” and shows them singing in front of a Palestinian flag.
Kehlani also frequently reposts videos of Palestinians asking for aid and medical assistance, and in a recent video even declared “f*\* Israel, f** Zionism.”
Leaving Pride Behind
A letter signed by members of the Jewish community, including synagogues and activist groups, condemns the decision to allow Kehlani to headline the Pride event.
“In light of San Diego Pride’s decision to allow musical artist Kehlani to remain a headliner at this year’s Pride Festival despite Kehlani’s repeated amplification of violent antisemitic rhetoric, all participating Jewish organizations and synagogues — many of which have marched with, volunteered for or supported Pride for years — will be withdrawing from the 2025 event due to serious safety concerns,” the letter reads.
“As a result, there will be no organized Jewish presence at San Diego Pride this year.”
The Jewish groups pulling out of San Diego’s Pride represent some of the most high-profile Jewish groups in the city, including:
- Jewish Federation of San Diego
- Anti-Defamation League of San Diego
- Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (JCC)
- Temple Emanu-El of San Diego
- Congregation Beth Israel
- Congregation Dor Hadash
- Tifereth Israel Synagogue
- Temple Adat Shalom
They say that though they wanted to attend, San Diego Pride left them no choice when they opted to keep Kehlani on as a headliner.
“Now more than ever, Pride should be a celebration of inclusion and solidarity, not a platform for divisive voices that incite hatred and violence,” explained Heidi Gantwerk, President and CEO of Jewish Federation of San Diego County. “As we’ve seen in D.C. and Boulder, when antisemitism is ignored or tolerated, it fuels a culture that leads to violence. We cannot wait for tragedy to strike our own community — again — before we act.”
Prior Controversy
This is not the first time Kehlani has faced backlash for speaking out against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Earlier this year, their scheduled performance at Cornell University was abruptly canceled by university president Michael Kotlikoff. Kotlikoff accused Kehlani of "[espousing] antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media," and their performance at New York City’s Pride was also abruptly canceled last month for similar reasons.
In response, Kehlani posted on Instagram, "I am not antisemitic, nor anti-Jew. I am anti-genocide, I am anti the actions of the Israeli government, I am anti an extermination of an entire people, I am anti the bombing of innocent children, men, women—that’s what I’m anti.”
For now, it appears Kehlani is still headlining San Diego Pride. And in response to the ongoing backlash, San Diego Pride’s board of directors issued a statement:
“We honor the value of artistic integrity, the importance of free expression and the role that artists play in shaping culture, challenging systems and amplifying voices while respecting each other’s differences.”
What is your reaction?
11 comments
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Reverend Paula Copp
I don’t believe in genocide. I don’t believe in killing children because they may become terrorists someday. I also don’t think that all Jews want the genocide of the Palestinians. It’s time for Netanyahu and trump to go to the old folks home, and take putin with them!
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James Mounts
So, it makes perfect sense to me that the Sand Diego Pride would support a person who supports an organization that supports executing all non-binary people.
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Rev'd Andrew
They have not said, as far as I can discover, that they support Hamas. Only that they are against the slaughter of Palestinians, the apartheid nature of Israel, and Zionism.
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James Mounts
You might have discovered it during the recent protests, but you would have had to tear yourself away from MSNBC, and I know that just would not happen.
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Michael Hunt
Which protests are you referring to?
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Rev. BH
So one foul-mouthed, opinionated (not a bad thing) singer gets the entire Jewish community to quit supporting what they purportedly supported. I hope she doesn't sing bad mouthy things about BBQ!
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Nicholas J Page
I don't believe in murder of any living person's or whatever you want to call it. So no one should be mouthing off about the Jewish community or any other community. John Lennon was anti war about any war Give Peace A Chance.
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Robert Gagnon
Everyone has the right to say or refuse to participate in any functions they choose. The far radical left just can't get controversial enough so let's see how far we can push it. Let's put a target on our back and whine about being a victim. Go have your pride parade in a Muslim country and see how well that goes over. What's happening in Gaza is terrible, American Jews have nothing to do with it. Israel has been screwing the Palestinians for quite a while and won't change. The alphabet community is on some fragile ground right now and should worry about their own turf without making noise that weakens their position.
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Timothy C Stone
"The far radical left just can't get controversial enough so let's see how far we can push it. Let's put a target on our back and whine about being a victim = Radical Far Right projection. Other than that I agree with you.
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Ok I get to be the first on this one. Up the Jew of the day! People have the right to protest. They have the right to participate or not participate in this or any other event. But some American Jews have a problem... they can't separate the country of Israel from its right wing government, and they can't separate legitimate dialogue and criticism of either from what is anti-Semitic and what is not. Antisemitism can encompass a lot of things... from physical aggression as we have seen in DC and other places recently to something as simple as "why does my local Kroger no longer carry Hanukkah candles, or why does my local Kroger no longer line shelving at Passover, and why does my local Kroger put out non-kosher for Passover foods out (at a higher than usual price) and then have a huge sale on jars and jars of gefilte fish and boxes and boxes matzoh for everyday use for months after? I've had conversations with the ever evolving managers at my local store... they don't get it. Another example is the spell check on this software which wants to capitalize and condense words like "Antisemitism," and highlights as errors words with a meaning, emphasis, and even "nuance" as well, not kosher. Similarly there are things that some American Jews don't get... (keeping in mind that most of the Jews I know on a day to day basis, who like me, are unaffiliated so my perspective here comes from a certain place.) What is anti-semetic and what is not is for many people as complicated as what is kosher and what is not? A chaq'un son gout... especially in the reform movement, where one may have a kosher meal at home on Friday but go to brunch with friends on Saturday or Sunday and celebrate the phrase "another Jew for bacon!" American Jews are not a monolith. Which is why I find this threat to not participate etc by some people as "who cares?" Some are going to criticize and refrain from or even protest this particular entertainer's involvement and personal perspective, regardless and okay fine. Also, who made you so important that anyone should care? This has been the big mistake, and some study will prove my point. LGBTQ+/- this that or the other Pride is important... all people are included and all are welcome...and sometimes one needs to put aside one's differences to support the bigger issue... One may also find that the person they are so hung up on is a real person, with a legitimate experience, and a legitimate perspective, one that may differ, but if one digs deep enough and studies enough... one might just find that the perspective is possibly correct, and then one has to wrestle with g-d...which is something many folks are not willing to do.... Pride is not the place for American Jews to take this issue... "we're mad, so if we don't get our way, we are taking our toys home...." Please. This is a big event. If you show up great. If you don't show up fine. If the media wants to make a big deal about the situation, that's what they do, and some may get their 15 seconds of fame being interviewed, which no one will care about a year from now. Big event, big picture people... Mr Netanyahu is never gonna stand up and say " Jews of America, thank you for fighting antisemitism by pulling out of that parade...." He might stand up and use American Jews as an example: he is not pro- LGBTQ+. He is pro himself staying in power long enough to avoid his pending prosecution.... Funny...sounds a lot what happened here, doesn't it? And so we have a convicted FELON heading out administrative branch who has broken his oath to the Constitution too many times to even prosecute. Wake up people...! The struggle is real and no one can afford to turn allies to enemies.
Peace...out...tk The Israeli government is the place to take the issue
I applaud your message. Thank you for taking the time to share this perspective.