Approximately 3,000 gays gathered in Tel Aviv today to celebrate the Israeli cities gay pride. The march - which other report as 15,000 strong - comes just days after Knesset approved the first reading of a bill that would ban gay pride - and other "dangerous" gatherings - in the ever-holy Jerusalem and, possibly, all of Israel.

Of the proposed law, one Tel Aviv resident remarked:

Young children should not have to see people committing acts of abomination in the city's main streets. Tel Aviv must not be sacrificed for the sake of Jerusalem

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv's deputy mayor, Yael Dayan blasted the discriminatory measure:

This is a pathetic battle that isn't worth having energy invested in it. In Tel Aviv we respect the strictly-Orthodox minority, and no one is demanding any preconditions of them. Therefore they certainly cannot have the audacity to demand its cancellation. Those objecting the parade are wasting time because in Tel Aviv there is no question as to the importance of the of the pride parade.

Though he doesn't believe the law should limit the lavender set, Prime Minister Olmert certainly doesn't approve, his office said:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does not think that Jerusalem is the appropriate location for holding gay pride parades due to the special sensitive nature of the city, although he believes that such matters should not be limited by law.

Olmert isn't the only one objecting. Hundreds of protesters also gathered in Tel Aviv today to protest the gay event with signs admonishing participants allegedly abominable behavior. Like real troopers, however, the gays aren't letting all the haterade dampen their spirits. They left that to their outfits. One Marie Antoinette-costumed gay griped, "I am wearing a girdle, and I haven’t been able to breathe for an hour and I’m almost suffocating!!" No pain, no gain, right?