FAQ

What are the current legal threats to trans and LGBQ+ youth?

Right-wing politicians in dozens of states are creating state-level policies that deny trans youth the basic dignities of life.

These policy attacks are gutting. They don’t stop young people from being trans or LGBQ+, but anti-LGBTQ+ policies do make it much harder for kids to grow up feeling loved and safe. Jewish youth and Jewish families in states with anti-trans and anti-LGBQ+ policies are already losing access to life-saving healthcare and already fear for their safety.

The specific types of laws targeting trans and LGBQ+ youth include:

BANS ON HEALTH CARE FOR MINORS
Prevent youth under the age of majority from being able to access puberty blockers, hormones, or other medical care that alleviates gender dysphoria and allows them to present as the gender they know themselves to be. Sometimes these laws establish criminal penalties for health care providers or families.

BATHROOM BANS
Prevent trans students at public schools from using the bathrooms that best align with their gender identity. They can also ban trans adults from using public restrooms.

DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
Often tacked on to other anti-trans legislation. They require public school officials to notify parents if a student speaks to an adult at school about questioning their gender or sexuality. For students who do not feel safe sharing this information with their parents, these requirements make it unsafe to talk to other trusted adults.

“DON’T SAY GAY” BILLS
Ban discussion of, or allow parents to sue teachers and schools for discussing, diverse genders or sexualities in public school classrooms under certain age limits. They are often vague in ways that make teachers fearful of discussing even the basic existence of LGBTQ+ people.

OBSTACLES TO NAME AND GENDER MARKER CHANGES
Establish medical or surgical requirements, minimum ages, or other procedural obstacles to changing one’s name or gender marker on official documents such as birth certificates and drivers’ licenses.

SPORTS BANS
Prevent trans student athletes at public schools and universities from playing on the sports teams that align with their gender identity, and almost always focus on barring trans girls and women from teams.

Why is this happening?

Some people in power have learned that they can get attention by pushing extremist anti-LGBTQ+ policy that exploits the public’s lack of familiarity with transgender and LGBQ+ people. This is a cynical tactic that relies on stoking fears about LGBTQ+ folks to divide and distract the public. These politicians refuse to address what our families and communities really need – better policies and resources for everyone. Instead of working for jobs, healthcare, paid leave, housing, climate change and environmental justice, and more, these policymakers are attacking trans youth.

Policymakers come after young people because youth are powerful and also vulnerable. Young people today and historically are the leaders of so many movements for equality. And young people are often boldly committed to exploring and being their authentic selves. But youth are dependent on their families, schools, and communities for their basic needs and safety.

And right now the anti-LGBTQ+, and extreme right-wing Christian movement is gaining power.

States have a lot of leeway in establishing laws, policies, and procedures within their borders. When they have the votes, state legislatures can establish anti-trans policies that couldn’t pass at the national level. When people try to overturn anti-trans laws in federal courts, the case rulings can create legal precedents that apply nationally.

In 2021 a record-breaking 27 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation were signed into law across the country. As of June 1, 2022, and according to HRC, over 300 laws have been introduced and laws have passed in 8 states. More are expected to be introduced. These laws deny gender-affirming healthcare for teens, bar kids from joining sports teams, and threaten to harm teachers, parents, or other adults who support young people. As Jews, we know the perils of standing by and remaining silent. For the sake of people’s lives and basic dignity, we must take action.

Why is it important for Jewish communities to take political action to defend trans and LGBQ+ youth?

Jewish voices matter. Today, a small but vocal group of extremist, right-wing Christian politicians and leaders are driving a national, coordinated, and well-funded movement to deny the basic rights of trans and LGBQ+ youth as well as LGBTQ+ adults.

But the overwhelming majority of Americans, including 85% of American Jews, believe in civil rights for people of all sexual orientations and identities. As Jews, we have an ethical imperative to treat each person as holy and deserving of respect and dignity. When we speak out for LGBTQ+ equality as Jews, we change the narrative that “religious” means anti-LGBTQ+. Our tradition teaches us that it’s a mitzvah, a religious obligation, to fight for the freedom and dignity of all people.

Further, the greatest mitzvah one can do in Judaism is to save a life. Anti-trans and anti-LGBQ+ policies contribute to the feeling for trans and LGBQ+ youth that there is something wrong with them or that they can’t fit into society. Devastatingly, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are all too common among LGBTQ+ youth. Worse, these policies give homophobic and transphobic teachers, peers, and community members more opportunities to hurt LGBTQ+ youth. When we defend trans and LGBQ+ young people, whether by fighting for LGBTQ+ equality, preventing passage of anti-LGBTQ+ policy, or by creating communities of connection, comfort, and safety, we protect and affirm the lives of trans youth.

How else can we help?

To begin with, we can all make sure that we’re learning about and from trans and LGBQ+ young people, especially if we are unfamiliar with trans identity and experiences. We can learn to speak up about LGBTQ+ rights in our families, Jewish communities, workplaces, schools, and everywhere to share accurate, respectful information.

We can also bring our Jewish communities and organizations into Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth. Through the coalition your community can get helpful, accessible education on trans and LGBQ+ youth issues, and join with other Jewish institutions to raise our voices for and with our young people.

 

Coalition is in formation and member groups will be updated here!

A Wider Bridge
Academy for Jewish Religion
ADL (Anti-Defamation League)
ADL Arizona Region
ADL Austin Region
ADL Central Pacific Region
ADL Cleveland Region
ADL Connecticut Region
ADL Heartland Region
ADL Florida
ADL Los Angeles Region
ADL Michigan Region
ADL Mountain States Region
ADL Nevada Region
ADL New England
ADL New York/New Jersey
ADL Orange County/Long Beach
ADL Pacific Northwest Region
ADL Philadelphia Region
ADL San Diego
ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties
ADL South Central Region
ADL Southeast
ADL Southwest
ADL Texoma Region
ADL Washington, DC
ALEPH Ordination Program
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
Ansche Chesed (New York, NY)
APS
Ariel Univeristy
Asheville Jewish Community Center
Avodah
BBYO
Be’chol Lashon
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Colorado Chapter
Beth Chayim Chadashim (Los Angeles, CA)
Beth Shalom Synagogue (Memphis, TN)
Bnai Keshet (Montclair, NJ)
Carolina Jews for Justice
Charleston Jewish Federation
Coastal Roots Farm
Columbia Jewish Congregation (Columbia, MD)
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Congregation Agudas Achim (Austin, TX)
Congregation B’nai Israel (Sacramento, CA)
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (New York, NY)
Congregation Bet Haverim (Atlanta, GA)
Congregation Beth David (Saratoga, CA)
Congregation Beth El (Voorhees, NJ)
Congregation Beth El of Rochester, NY
Congregation Etz Chaim (Marietta, GA)
Congregation Har HaShem (Boulder, CO)
Congregation Rodeph Sholom (New York, NY)
Congregation Sha’ar Zahav (San Francisco, CA)
Congregation Shaare Emeth (St. Louis, MO)
Congregation Shearith Israel (Atlanta, GA)
Eshel
Footsteps
Fort Tryon Jewish Center (New York, NY)
Foundation for Jewish Camp
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Havurat Shalom, Merrimack Valley
Hebrew Educational Alliance
Hillel International
Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebl (Baltimore, MD)
Houston Hillel
IKAR (Los Angeles, CA)
Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Interfaith Alliance
Israel on Campus Coalition
JCC of Baltimore
JCC of Greater Vancouver
JCRC of Atlanta
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston
Jewish Community Action
Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund
Jewish Community Relations Council of Broward County
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
The Jewish Education Project
Jewish Emergent Network
Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
Jewish Federation of Broward County
Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester
Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County
Jewish Women International
Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York
Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta
Jewish Women’s Archive
Jewish Youth Climate Movement
Jewish Youth for Community Action
Jews for a Secular Democracy
jHUB
The JOC Mishpacha Project
JPride (and The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore)
JQ International
JQY
JTEEN
JTS Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice
Judaism Your Way
Kane Street Synagogue (Brooklyn, NY)
Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute
Konar Center for Tolerance & Jewish Studies at Nazareth College
Lab/Shul (New York, NY)
Lander-Grinspoon Academy
Makom Shelanu Congregation (Fort Worth, TX)
Malkhut: Progressive Jewish Spirituality in Queens (Jackson Heights, NY)
Marcus JCC of Atlanta
Memphis Jewish Community Center
Metamorph Mentorship
Milwaukee Jewish Federation
Mishkan Chicago
Mitsui Collective
Mount Zion Temple (St. Paul, MN)
Moving Traditions
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Jewish Women Atlanta Section
National Council of Jewish Women Austin Section
National Council of Jewish Women Greater Rochester Section
Nazun
Nefesh (Los Angeles, CA)
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
Or Adam Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (Scottsdale, AZ)
Or Hamidbar (Palm Springs, CA)
Peninsula Jewish Community Center (Foster City, CA)
QJews
Rabbinical Assembly
Realize Paradise (Honolulu, HI)
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Repair the World Atlanta
Repair the World National
SAJ-Judaism that Stands for All
Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School
Seattle Jewish Community School
Sha’ar Zahav (San Francisco, CA)
Shalom Austin
The Shalom Center
Shalom Orlando
Shearith Israel (Atlanta, GA)
Shir Tikvah Congregation (Minneapolis, MN)
Sinai Synagogue (South Bend, IN)
Sixth Circle Consulting
SketchPad
Society for Humanistic Judaism
SOJOURN
St. Paul Jewish Federation
SVARA
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Tamid NYC: the Downtown Synagogue
Temple Adath Or (TAO) (Weston, FL)
Temple B’nai Abraham (Beverly, MA)
Temple B’rith Kodesh (Rochester, NY)
Temple Bat Yam of East Fort Lauderdale
Temple Beth Abraham Tzedek Committee (Nashua, NH)
Temple Beth David (Brighton, NY)
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton (FL)
Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim (Cranford, NJ)
Temple Beth Zion (Brookline, MA)
Temple Emanu-El (Sarasota, FL)
Temple Emanu-El (Westfield, NJ)
Temple Emanuel (Denver, CO)
Temple Emeth (Chestnut Hill, MA)
Temple Emunah (Maynard, MA)
Temple Hillel B’nai Torah (West Roxbury, MA)
Temple Israel (Memphis, TN)
Temple Kol Emeth (Marietta, GA)
Temple Ohabei Shalom (Brookline, MA)
Temple Reyim (Newton, MA)
Temple Shir Tikva (Wayland, MA)
Temple Shir Tikvah (Winchester, MA)
Temple Sinai (Sandy Springs, GA)
Temple Sinai (Rochester, NY)
The Temple (Atlanta, GA)
Tribe 12
Tzedek Georgia
Union for Reform Judaism
Up in the Chair
UpStart (Oakland, CA)
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
USY
Vanderbilt Hillel
Wendy and Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service
Women of Reform Judaism
The Workers Circle
Zioness Movement