Times of San Diego
SAN DIEGO — A coalition of local organizations and synagogues has called on San Diego Pride to reconsider one of its headliners for the Pride Festival in light of what they claim are antisemitic comments.
Kehlani, who uses they/them pronouns, has been vocal about support for Palestinians during the bombing campaign and invasion of Gaza by Israel following the October 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas.
The Finest Community Coalition, which is made up of nearly 30 local Jewish groups, on Thursday claimed that the singer’s comments would create an unwelcoming environment at the Pride Festival in July.
The coalition describes itself as “an independent initiative that takes a community-wide approach to combat antisemitism together for a better San Diego.”
“Pride should be a celebration of inclusion and solidarity, not a platform for divisive voices that incite hatred and violence,” according to a statement from the coalition. “In recent months, Kehlani has amplified antisemitic rhetoric that is deeply harmful to the Jewish community.”
Coalition members include the American Jewish Committee San Diego, Anti-Defamation League of San Diego, Hillel of San Diego, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Jewish Federation of San Diego, Leichtag Foundation, Congregation Beth Israel, Temple Adat Shalom of Poway and Temple Emanu-El of San Diego.
Pride officials did not respond to a request for comment.
Kehlani has criticized other artists who have not spoken out about Gaza, and in 2023 signed an open letter calling for a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. They also have dedicated proceeds from merchandise sales to benefit residents in war zones, including Gaza.
The performer continued to show support via social media for the Palestinian people in 2024 by calling for fellow musicians to support the plight of Gazans. They have 16 million followers on Instagram.
The San Diego coalition said that Kehlani’s “messages go beyond political critique – they are dehumanizing, and they alienate and endanger Jewish San Diegans, including LGBTQ+ Jews.” Pride’s stance in associating with the singer, the group said, has led to doubts about the July celebration.
“As a result of this decision, Jewish organizations and individuals that have long supported Pride have been put in a position in which they have to question their participation and whether this year’s event is truly a space where they will be safe and protected,” coalition officials said.
Kehlani has felt backlash before. Their participation in Cornell University’s annual Slope Day was canceled in April by university president Michael Kotlikoff over the singer’s support for Palestine.
He said Kehlani had “espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos and on social media.”
Kehlani fired back, saying they are “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,” they wrote on Instagram.
A free concert featuring Kehlani scheduled for New York City’s Pride Month in June was canceled by Mayor Eric Adams, who cited security concerns.
The San Diego Pride Festival is scheduled for July 19-20 in Balboa Park. Kehlani is set to headline Saturday’s performance.
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Preceding story initially appeared in Times of San Diego with which San Diego Jewish World trades stories under auspices of the San Diego Online News Association
An Open Letter to San Diego Pride Organizers, Sponsors, and City Officials
San Diego Pride Must Cancel Kehlani Performance
After a young Jewish Couple Was Murdered in D.C. by a Radicalized Gunman — This Is No Time to Platform Hate
To the organizers, sponsors, and public leaders supporting San Diego Pride:
San Diego Pride’s mission is to “foster pride, equality, and respect for ALL LGBTQ+ communities.” That mission is deeply undermined by the decision to invite Kehlani as the headline performer at San Diego Pride 2025.
Kehlani has glorified the *intifada* — a violent campaign of bombings and civilian killings — and has repeatedly called for the “eradication of Zionism” and the “dismantling of Israel,” the world’s only Jewish state. Let us be clear: Zionism is the movement for the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, Israel. This is not a fringe belief. It is foundational to Jewish identity and was recognized internationally with the establishment of Israel in 1948.
When Kehlani calls to eliminate Zionism, she is not offering a political critique. She is calling for the erasure of Jewish identity and the destruction of the only Jewish state and its people. This rhetoric fuels antisemitism and incites real-world violence.
Just this past week in Washington, D.C., we witnessed the tragic result of such dangerous language. A young Jewish couple, soon to be engaged, was shot and killed at close range while attending an American Jewish Committee event for young diplomats. The interfaith event — co-hosted by IsraAid, a humanitarian organization serving 60 countries, including currently facilitating aid to Gaza and North Africa — was shattered by a gunman video’d shouting “Free Palestine” as he opened fire. This was not a protest. This was a hate crime — an act of terror in heart of the U.S. capital.
This tragedy is not isolated. It reflects a growing culture of radicalization in which voices like Kehlani’s play a dangerous role. She has referred to Zionists — the vast majority of Jews — as “scum of the earth,” screamed “F*** Israel” at concerts, and shared posts claiming “no one should feel comfortable or safe until Zionism is extinguished.” These are not dissenting opinions. They are dehumanizing statements that do not belong at Pride.
Platforming Kehlani will not just endanger Jewish attendees — it risks the safety of the entire LGBTQ+ community and allies . Hate is never containable. Once legitimized, it spreads. By giving Kehlani this platform, Pride risks amplifying rhetoric that incites violence far beyond the event itself.
Other institutions have recognized this danger. Both Cornell University and New York City Pride rescinded Kehlani’s invitations, citing concerns for safety and unity. In New York, their decision to cancel Kehlani was supported by Congressman Ritchie Torres and NYC Mayor Eric Adams — leaders who understand that antisemitic incitement has no place at inclusive events.
Pride cannot ask Jewish LGBTQ+ people to erase a part of themselves in order to belong. That is not inclusion — that is exclusion, wrapped in progressive language. Pride must be a space of safety and celebration for all identities, including Jewish queer people, who are increasingly marginalized and targeted.
The hypocrisy is painful. Israel — the country Kehlani seeks to “dismantle” — is the only nation in the Middle East where LGBTQ+ people enjoy full legal rights and protections. It is home to a vibrant queer community that includes Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze citizens. It also grants asylum to LGBTQ+ Palestinians fleeing persecution. This context matters — and yet it is ignored in favor of vilifying the one country in the region that protects queer life.
San Diego Pride’s stated values — including zero tolerance for abusive conduct and a commitment to inclusive, safe spaces — must apply to everyone. We would not tolerate a performer who called for the eradication of any other marginalized group. We must apply the same standard to antisemitism.
This is not a call for censorship. It is a plea for moral clarity, compassion, and responsibility. Kehlani is entitled to her views. But San Diego Pride has a duty to select artists who embody its mission of joy, justice, and unity — not division and hate.
We urge you:
* Cancel Kehlani’s performance.
* Choose unity over division.
* Choose inclusion over hate.
* Choose safety — not just for some, but for all.
Let San Diego Pride be what it was always meant to be: a celebration of love, resilience, and shared humanity — not a platform for hate cloaked in rainbow.
With respect and urgency,
Sophie S.