Israel’s official Foreign Ministry social media account this week promoted a four-day LGBT pride festival planned for June at the Dead Sea — a location that both biblical tradition and many archaeologists associate with the site of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities destroyed by God in Genesis 19 for their sexual immorality.
The post from the official Israel account read: “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.” The event, scheduled for June 1-4, is planned to accommodate 15 hotels worth of guests, feature a central performance arena, operate 24 hours a day, and include what organizers describe as “family-friendly” areas with children’s activities. Event producer Aaron Cohen called it “the biggest thing we’ve done here.”
The announcement drew swift and pointed reaction from Christian voices across social media. Father Michael Lillie, a priest at Nativity of Christ Orthodox Church in Ohio, wrote simply: “Why here? They are mocking God.” Evangelist Sean Feucht declared, “We are living in the End Times.” Conservative commentator Josie Glabach called it “a mockery of God.”
The event comes as Israel attempts to revive flagging tourism amid its ongoing regional war — with the U.S. State Department currently advising Americans to avoid the country due to active threats and civil unrest.
Whatever one’s views on Israel’s domestic politics, American Christians who support the Jewish state as a matter of biblical conviction should be able to say clearly: staging the region’s largest LGBT celebration at the site where God rained fire from heaven is not something that deserves our applause.
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