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JQY (Jewish Queer Youth) is a nonprofit organization supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Jews and their families in the Orthodox community.
Our mission is to address the unique needs of frum* and formerly frum LGBT Jews. JQY is dedicated to cultivating a Jewish community where no one feels alone, bullied or silenced because of their orientation or gender identity. Special attention is given to youth, young adults and their families; however we have programs for all ages.
*Frum includes: Orthodox, Yeshivish, Chasidish, Sephardic, modern, and traditional Jewish identities.
Are you Bisexual? Bi-friendly? Queer or Questioning? and on Facebook? You are also invited to join us on: Bisexual People of Faith A community for bisexual people from all faith, religious, spiritual, spirit and wisdom traditions.
Jsyk JQY is NOT restricted to just Orthodox Jews, it is open to anyone who is an LGBT Jew regardless of their level of observance, but does have a focus on Orthodox Jews because they often face the most intolerance within the Jewish community.
In 1984, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College began to admit openly gay/lesbian students and was subsequently adopted by the Reconstructionist Federation of Congregations and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association. The CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Reform Rabbinic leadership organization) has passed numerous declarations in support of Gay rights as early as 1977 and adopted a resolution in 1996 in full support of gay marriage. In 2006, t he Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly passed a resolution saying conservative synagogues may have gay weddings and openly gay clergy. The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregation has not, to my knowledge, ever passed anything in regards to this but there have been (greatly controversial) openly gay orthodox rabbis and weddings.
In regards to trans rights, to my knowledge, only the reform movement has put forth a resolution. In 2015 the union passed the “Resolution on the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People.” Thats not to say other jewish movements aren’t actively trying to include trans Jews it just means no other movement as a whole has taken such a large step.
But even though othe movements have taken steps doesn’t mean intolerance is no longer in our communities, especially transphobia. So JQY not only accepts Jews of all denominations (including those who do not identify with one) but is necessary for all denominations.
Also frum just means observant/pious and can be used in regards to any Jew, though it is usually used by Ashkenazim as it is a Yiddish word :)
