When I am in the Queer community, doing work on behalf of LGBTQ equality, I proudly announce that I am a practicing Jew. That I have no qualms with my religion and it has no qualms with me. I want to break the stigma that you can’t be religious or spiritual and also be gay.
Similarly, when I am working in the Jewish world, I am proudly open about the fact that I am gay. My home synagogue knows I am gay- and my straight rabbi there recently spoke from the bimah or raised platform in front of the congregation about his demands for equality. Every day that I go to work at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, my colleagues embrace me and my partner- who also works here.
It is rare that I am surrounded by a majority of LGBTQ Jews. When I do- it’s like a special home; a rare treat. Twice this summer, I have participated in conferences that have surrounded me with LGBTQ Jews from around the world.
This past weekend, I presented at the World Congress of LGBT Jews at UCLA with a dear colleague and friend of mine, Elissa Barratt. I was proud to conduct a survey of young LGBTQ Jewish women and share our results to an invested crowd.
A picture of Elissa and I leading the session ended up being the featured picture of a recent feature in the Jewish Journal and our research and presentation is also mentioned in the attached article.
Check it out: CLICK HERE TO READ
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