Tikkun Magazine, November/December 2006
Small Steps to LGBT Inclusion
By Gregg Drinkwater
The 1980s was the age of "identity politics." Almost a generation later, especially for readers of a progressive magazine like Tikkun, focusing on diversity can seem so passé. Don't we all—that is, those of us in the liberal political and religious world—already get it? Do we really need more discussion about diversity?
When it comes to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) identities, we do. Jewish responses to LGBT people run the gamut from the celebration and affirmation of sexual and gender diversity found in LGBT-out-reach synagogues to the utter condemnation of any form of gay visibility by the chief rabbis of Israel and Russia, among others. Over the last ten to twenty years, social justice activists committed to LGBT inclusion have seen incredible strides in the Jewish community, but much of the Jewish world still falls short in their progress toward this goal, and there is work to be done.
Most Jewish communal leaders, for example, favor the inclusion of LGBT Jews, but those same leaders often don't know where to start. A recent community study conducted in Colorado by Jewish Mosaic, the organization I work for, found that even when Jews in leadership roles considered themselves open and welcoming, many LGBT community members looked at the same institutions with hesitation and uncertainty. Projecting inclusion visibly and proactively is not just about having a receptive attitude. It's about making inclusiveness a reality through concrete policies and procedures, words and actions. And ultimately, it means having LGBT Jews in visible roles in the Jewish community.
The complexity of making "grand gestures" around LGBT issues often intimidates Jewish community leaders into inaction. With so many competing communal priorities, why should they spend precious institutional resources on comprehensive LGBT inclusion projects? At Jewish Mosaic, the most important piece of advice we give to community leaders and activists is: grand gestures are great, but don't ignore the small stuff. That's the same lesson the sages conveyed in Pirke Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) when they taught us that "It is not our responsibility to finish the task [of repairing the world], but neither are we free to leave the status quo alone."
For example, while hiring an openly gay rabbi or executive director would boldly demonstrate your institution's commitment to diversity, a first step you can take now would be implementing an institutional nondiscrimination policy that makes it clear that your organization is open to staff and clergy regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Starting an LGBT havurah is a great way to create community for LGBT Jews within synagogues. But before starting up a program to recruit new people, make sure your shul has undergone a "form audit." This involves pulling recent copies of all of the synagogue's membership forms, school enrollment forms, and program signup sheets to make sure the forms are appropriate for diverse families. For example, do your school's forms have one space each for "mother" and "father" or multiple spaces for "parents/guardians"? The latter is a more open and welcoming way of recognizing family diversity. LGBT Jews are unlikely to feel truly welcome in a synagogue whose forms and policies don't appear to even recognize their existence, and by honoring diverse families you'll also validate many of the divorced and blended families in your congregation.
Another fairly simple step is to hold diversity workshops to foster dialogue in your community about LGBT inclusion. Jewish Mosaic, in cooperation with the Anti-Defamation League's A World Of Difference Institute, maintains a national roster of diversity trainers who conduct workshops focused on LGBT issues in Jewish community settings. Diversity workshops don't require long-term commitments and can be tailored to fit the needs and available time slots of any organization.
And if you've considered holding a workshop, but think that your community doesn't need it because they're already welcoming and the workshops would just be "preaching to the choir," then fear not. What's so wrong with preaching to the choir? Most choirs I know practice regularly, and the really good ones—the ones that make the biggest impact—practice a lot. The choir's members rely on their leaders and on each other to motivate and inspire them and to help them continue to improve their vocal skills. Why should social change activists be any different?
Gregg Drinkwater is the Executive Director of Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, www.JewishMosaic.org
Source Citation
Drinkwater, Gregg. 2006. Small Steps to LGBT Inclusion. Tikkun 21(6): 74.
