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June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month! Hosting a Pride Shabbat service or program is an excellent way to honor the movement for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion, to celebrate recent victories against discrimination, and to commit to the work ahead. This year, the RAC is joining our interfaith partners in sponsoring the fourth annual Faith for Pride: a month-long effort to highlight religious support for LGBTQ+ equality. Check out the website to find an event near you or register your own event! Use the resources below to help you plan a Pride Shabbat in your congregation or home!
INCLUSION RESOURCES
- Trans Inclusion Resource Guide from the URJ & Keshet
- URJ Quick Guide to Pronouns
- LGBTQ+ Terminology from Keshet
- Affirming Trans & Non-Binary Youth in Our Jewish Communities Recording
- Printable Pronoun Resource
- All-Gender Restroom Printable Sign
- Creating an Affirming & Inclusive Greeter Training
LITURGY AND JEWISH TEXT
- Selected liturgy, readings and poems
- TransTorah references to 6 genders in the Torah
- Love Wins: A Pride Prayer (In Memoriam, Orlando)
- Download and use Mishkan Ga’Avah: Where Pride Dwells, a groundbreaking collection of LGBTQ+ prayers, poems, liturgy, and rituals that can serve as an affirming and enriching addition to your Shabbat celebrations during Pride or year-round.
SAMPLE SERMONS
- Queer Lives, Unrecognized Blessings. Delivered by Rabbi Nikki DeBlosi (she/her) 2020
- Fighting for the Marginalized. Delivered by Rabbi Bryan Mann (he/him) 2019
- A Thread of Blue: Queer perspectives on tzitzit. Delivered by Maria Pulzetti (she/her) 2021
- Shabbat Sermon: Pride. Delivered by Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers (she/her) 2021
PERSONAL STORIES
- Trans Day of Visibility is Just a Start blog post
- Transgender Awareness Week blog post
- Your Rights Should Not Depend on Where You Live blog post
- We Will Not Go Back: It’s Time to Pass the Respect for Marriage Act blog post
- Wholly Jewish podcast
TAKE ACTION
- Urge the Senate to swiftly pass the Equality Act to provide civil rights protections for all LGBTQ+ people.
- Tell your state legislators to stop attacks on LGBTQ+ people.
- Fill out this form to register your event with Faith for Pride! Your event will be displayed on our website, which houses a map of services and programs happening throughout the country during Pride Month.
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
- Check out Jewish-American LGBTQ+ activist Lindz Amer’s “Queer Kid Stuff” videos
- Bake a Rainbow Challah
- Check out these other Rainbow Recipes
- 6 Jewish LGBTQ+ Affirming Children’s Books
REPORTS
- Trevor Project 2023 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health
- Human Right Campaign State Equality Index
- Public Religion Research Institute More Acceptance but Growing Polarization on LGBTQ Rights: Findings From the 2022 American Values Atlas
- Center for American Progress LGBTQI+ Nondiscrimination Laws Improve Economic, Physical, and Mental Well-Being
- Center for American Progress The State of the LGBTQ Community in 2020
- 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey
