By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM 

Tens of thousands of Israelis on Thursday evening took part in a “gay pride” demonstration in Jerusalem amid tight security, according to Israeli media reports.

Organizers of the event estimated the number of participants at some 35,000, making it the largest “gay pride” parade in the city’s history, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Thursday’s demonstration comes amid ongoing controversy over a recently passed surrogacy law that critics say excludes gay couples.

On Friday, Jerusalem saw several counter-demonstrations by Ultra-Orthodox Jews opposed to homosexuality. 

On the same day, 200 prominent Ultra-Orthodox rabbis issued a statement describing homosexuality and transgenderism as “deviant” behavior.