Making Your Jewish Congregation or Community More Transgender Friendly

Making Your Jewish Congregation or Community More Transgender Friendly

“And God created the human being in God’s own image…” —Genesis 1:27

Synagogues and other Jewish organizations are beginning to make changes and develop programming ideas to make their community more trans-friendly and to help educate members about transgender experiences. The following are examples of some steps that synagogues have taken to become more educated and welcoming.

Language
In flyers, newsletters, announcements, sermons etc., instead of writing “men and women welcome” or “for both men and women,” try “all genders welcome” or “for all genders.”

Facilities
Consider whether all of your facility’s restrooms must be genderspecific or whether one could be made available to everyone. This need not be complicated; covering the “men” or “women” sign with “all-gender restroom” is sufficient. Remember to do this for temporary, shared, or rental facilities also.

Ritual
Consider how comfortable a trans person might be marking a wedding, b’nei mitzvah, conversion, loss, or other life cycle event in your congregation. How open could they be about their identity during the process? What about from the bimah?

Transgender people often experience particular life-cycle events such as a gender change or a name change. Some wish to mark these events in a Jewish way, either publicly or privately. Consider how open your community is to developing new rituals or adapting existing ones.

It is important to be especially sensitive around vulnerable experiences such as the mikveh or illness. The best approach is to listen carefully to the needs that the trans person expresses and to accommodate those to the greatest possible extent – even if it’s not the way things are “usually” done.

Rethinking liturgy: Are there non-gendered and gender diverse language options for human beings and for God?

Consider observing the national Transgender Day of Remembrance in your congregation. Commemorations are held annually on November 20th. For more information: www.gender.org/remember

Education
Invite the community to a panel discussion, workshop or other event that will open up dialogue.

Offer an adult education class or sermon about trans issues in general or about trans and intersex issues in Jewish text or Jewish community.

If another organization is putting on a trans-related program, offer to host it, co-sponsor it, or advertise it. Consider what messages are conveyed in your religious school or children’s programs about gender and gender roles.

Political and Social Action
Include transgender and gender diversity issues as part of your community’s social action work. There are many transgender community services and advocacy organizations that are in great need of our support.

Outreach
Make sure to publicize changes that your congregation is making, as well as programs that you are planning. This will help to let trans people know that your community cares about being an affirming place for them.

Consider an outreach plan. The world at large is not very welcoming to transgender people. Therefore, trans people often assume that they are not welcome or included – unless it is stated otherwise.