LGBTQ Jews

David Berger spoke very eloquently this past week on the topic of LGBT and Judaism. I am very familiar with the origins and current viewpoints of homosexuality with regards to the Reform Movement, but i am not as well versed in the opinions of the other streams of judaism, other than the simple "don't ask, don't tell" policy that the Conservative Movement currently endorses, and the rejection (for lack of a better term) of the Orthodox Movments.
The environment in which i was raised (rural Pennsylvania), made me at a very early age aware of these issues, and gave me various opinions about issues like these. I grew up in an area with homosexuality was not widely accepted, and as socially liberal person, i learned very quickly how to defend my beliefs, and how to defend those around me who were subject to the harassment that unfortunately occured.
I took a class last spring on LGBT issues in the modern era (thank you general studies seminars :)), and one of the topics that we discussed was about religion and homosexuality. Since i am a heterosexual, it is hard for me to place myself in their shoes, and have to confront some of the issues that many of these people had and have to face. I don't know if i could be a traditionally orthodox jew, if i identified with LGBT. I have tremendous respect for those who do, and wish and hope that in the future they will be able to freely observe their own practices, without the fear of being ridiculed.

One of David's last comments had to do with the Rabbi at Yeshiva Flatbush. It was refreshing to hear this story, and to know that there are steps being made to make LGBTQ Jews welcome and part of the community that many of us hold so dear. I can only hope that the words of the Rabbi at that faculty meeting were taken to heart, and that the classroom have become a safe space for any and all types of jews, no matter how they identify their personal sexuality.

Final Comment - At the URJ Biennial, during the "State of the Union" Sermon, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, talked extensively about LGBTQ Jews, and how we as Reform Jews need to do more to create a warm and welcoming environment for them, and to prepare parents for the possibility that their child might be gay or lesbian.

"There is one other thing that we tell parents: Gay and lesbian children are the children of God just as heterosexual children are, and parents need to be prepared for the possibility that their child is gay. And if that is so, they need to create a home that will allow this child to grow into adulthood more easily than he could without their help. It goes without saying that teens who are gay and lesbian have the duty to live by exactly the same Jewish values as do heterosexuals."

The transcript of the entire speech, which covers everything from the religious right, to sexuality of teenagers, can be found here: Rabbi Yoffies Biennial 2005 Sermon