October 20, 2010 | 2:17 pm

I wear purple today because I am alive

Posted by Tera Greene

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Sometimes my life becomes overwhelming.  I get stuck and my energy seems to tense up.  All systems - usually running like a smooth stream - shut down.  All I can understand is, “Sleep”.  I don’t want to do anything but sleep.  I am in a state of deep deep deep sadness. My entire Being feels concave.  I wrestle with feelings of being alone.

Choosing to acknowledge and not be ashamed to speak about how you feel is important.  It is so necessary to feel you have a voice that gets heard.  Today I wear purple because I am one of those kids who couldn’t see where all this life stuff was heading. Day by day, though I must be careful because I am so creative I can’t not feel things so deeply, I see that I would have missed out on so much if everything had stopped when I was thirteen.  I wouldn’t have found that four-leaf clover that I didn’t find until I was 23.  Or, what a bummer to have missed out on learning Hebrew at 26?  I’ll never forget turning 25 years old the same day I was part of a rally for marriage equality with 20,000 attendees.  I would have missed out on all the many double rainbows I see… I feel like I see double rainbows so often because it’s Hashem saying, “Relax, yihiye beseder. It’s all going to be OK.  The extra rainbow is Me telling you that I love your rainbow-ness.  You are made of my Goodness, and I will always keep you safe.”

Today I wear purple because I am soon 27, and I am thankful I am still here to make music and sing and dance

and see where all this life stuff is heading. 

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October 19, 2010 | 2:48 pm

Israeli, Orthodox, and Gay

Posted by Janelle Eagle

For the readers who are interested in learning more about the intersections between Judaism and sexual orientation, I invite you to come to this event in Los Angeles.
_______
A WIDER BRIDGE PRESENTS

Israeli,Orthodox and Gay

A panel discussion with four of the men and women
leading a growing and historic movement

Come hear leaders of Havruta and Bat Kol, Israel’s largest LGBT Orthodox organizations,
share their stories, successes and challenges as they forge new ground in Israeli society.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 7:00 PM

Temple Beth Am
1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles

For more information, visit
www.awiderbridge.org
Co-sponsored by: Temple Beth Am; Beth Chayim Chadashim; Congregation Kol Ami;
JQ International; and the Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation, HUC-JIR

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October 17, 2010 | 1:23 pm

When Being Poor Makes You a Rich Person

Posted by Janelle Eagle

Can you think of alternatives?

My first job out of college was fundraising for GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. I spent three years pounding the pavement in markets such as San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. I wined and dined some of the most successful and affluent people in each of those cities and of course, asked them to write big checks to support the cause. Every time I made that ask, I was fakin’ it until I was makin’ it.

You see, asking for money is actually very difficult for me, though my track record of raising hundreds of thousands of dollars might cause you to think otherwise. Alas, sitting across the table from someone and asking them to turn over their hard-earned dough to me and the cause I was representing always made my stomach churn. I always felt needy, inferior and desperate. I also worried that they felt that I only wanted their support because they had money.

Is this some sort of ingrained Jewish guilt? Perhaps the more-prevalent teachings in Judaism about giving have made it confusing for my brain as I find myself asking far more often than the converse. Is it because I don’t have anything to give?

After an unfortunate interaction this past week I was reminded that we all have so much more to offer one another than money. Many of my peers and colleagues are just starting their careers; many are finding themselves suddenly unemployed. Regardless of our financial status, we know better than to stop giving when others are in need.

I thought about all the ways that my friends and I give even though we seemingly have nothing to offer:

1. Encouraging others to register to vote (the deadline in CA is Monday!)
2. Walks, Rides, and Rallies for causes we believe in
3. Providing a welcoming space at a Shabbat table
4. Lending a hand when moving, building, or creating
5. Standing up for one another & pledging to stop bullying
6. Listening and loving one another during heartbreak
7. Shouting and celebrating during times of triumph
8. Connecting one another for career opportunities or matchmaking
9. Sending a kind note (even on facebook), just because
10. Being present and supportive, no matter what

Do you have other ways that you give and receive that have nothing to do with money? I encourage you to share in the comments section below some alternative options of giving tzedakah (charity).


So much of our culture tells us that richness has to do with financial transaction. I beg to differ and would like to thank the many incredible people in my life who love and support me regardless of my financial status. If you haven’t been told enough recently, you are valuable, regardless of what’s in your wallet.

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October 14, 2010 | 3:13 pm

Raising The Next Gender Nation

Posted by Kalil Cohen

For More Information visit www.KalilCohen.com

      In a time of increased polarity, where the right seems to be growing more violent, afraid, and vindictive, and where queer people are caught in the spotlight of the culture wars, I feel so lucky to be a Jew.  Certainly not all Jews and not all Jewish communities are open and welcoming to LGBTQ folks, but many are.  Every Jewish service or gathering that I have been to in the past couple of weeks has not only mentioned the problem of harassment toward LGBTQ students and it’s root causes, but issued a call to action from its members to act on this problem.  As a queer Jew in non-queer Jewish spaces, this has lifted me up, and filled me with hope.  Not all LGBTQ youth experience harassment and bullying in schools, and no one should have to experience this type of intimidation and violence.  Knowing that many Jews and Jewish communities support my convictions makes me feel even that much more comfortable within the Jewish spaces that I inhabit.
The current rash of teen suicides also holds deeply personal meaning for me.  I teach middle school students, and also train teachers in working with LGBTQ youth and teach them strategies for creating safe environments for all students in their classes.  I am also currently in production on a film, The Next Gender Nation, which highlights the particular challenges faced by gender variant students (those who do not neatly fit into the girl/boy model of school life).

This work has always been incredibly important to me because of the high drop out rate of gender variant students, and because of the depression and negative behaviors that often result from extreme harassment and mistreatment.  Hearing from students can create a powerful catalyst to inspire educators to become better allies.  This often requires teachers to stand up for their students when administrators are acting unjustly, or when other teachers are singling students out for abuse. 
      Most of the youth I interviewed for The Next Gender Nation experienced harassment from administrators and teachers, which they categorized as significantly worse than the bullying they experienced from peers.  As one interviewee described her experiences of harassment in middle school:  “It was really the Deans, I can’t really remember any of the students.  It wasn’t as bad as the Deans, just because, I guess, they had power.  That was, that was my whole case since middle school.  It was always Deans, not really students.  And if it were they were it was, like, occasional.  But when it was the dean’s it would be, like, whenever I see them.”  She went on to describe specific ways in which she had been harassed by Deans, including intimidation:  “One of the Deans told me that “my days are numbered.”  This Dean also told my friend’s mom that “my days are numbered.”  My friend’s mom then told my mother, who finally believed me that the Deans were unfairly targeting me.”  This type of harassment is unacceptable and illegal.  AB 537, the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 clearly states that schools have a responsibility to act when harassment is occurring based on a students’ gender identity or sexual orientation.  My work as an educator is to inform school personnel of their legal obligation to protect students, and educate them about how to do so effectively.  I hope that we can all pledge to work a little harder on this issue, to ensure that the next generation of students can experience a safer school climate than this generation.  I know that those who came before me worked tirelessly to create greater opportunities for me, and now it is my turn to do so for those younger than myself. 
For more information about what you can do to make schools safe for all students, see www.glsen.org  To request a training for your school, contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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October 14, 2010 | 12:08 am

A Blessed and Full Cycle of Life

Posted by Lia Mandelbaum

Papa Jake and Grand Deborah

On October 1,2010, my grandfather Jake Gottfried, passed away.  He was a brilliant architect, and a humble, gentle man.  My grandfather was, and still is, an exquisite role model to me, and showed me how to live my life with integrity.  I mourn the loss of my grandfather, but amidst my sadness, I also feel a strong sense of peace and joy.  I have tremendous gratitude and respect for the way he chose to live his life, and the love and dedication he showed his family.

In the past 3 years, I have witnessed the tragic loss of nearly twenty fellow Jews to the disease of addiction.  The majority of them were under thirty years old.  In the past few years, I have attended numerous memorials and funerals, where the air was thick of anger, loss, shock and despair.  I experienced such deep pain watching as family member’s mourned the loss of their child or sibling to the disease of addiction.  Prior to my Grandfather’s memorial, every funeral that I had experienced was the tragic loss of someone who had died way too soon.  These were people I knew who had lost their lives struggling to achieve sobriety.  Papa Jake gave me a gift by showing me what the full cycle of life is truly supposed to look like.

I am so grateful that my grandfather blessed me with the experience of attending a memorial that was truly a celebration of his life and not the tragedy of his death.  More than 350 people were present to pay their respects to a wonderful man.  As an architect, my Grandfather designed many buildings, schools, and temples all over Tampa.  His memorial was held at Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa, Florida where he was President of the Brotherhood for two years and a member of the congregation for more than 50 years.  It was beautiful that his service was held in their sanctuary, a sacred space that he helped to design.  The service was incredibly meaningful for me and to all my friends and family.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to go home to Florida for my birthday and share some incredibly special moments with my Grandfather.  Although he was suffering from dementia, it was very clear to me that he knew after many years of watching me struggle that I was finally at peace.  I knew that he believed I was going to lead a happy and healthy life. He rubbed my back, like he did when I was a little girl , and looked at me with his joyful eyes. He asked me over and over again, how did I get to be so beautiful? This is a moment that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I am saddened by this loss, but must honor him and keep him eternal by choosing to live my life with the same values and dignity that I have learned from him.  I hope that as I near the end of my time, I will have left as big of an impact as my Grandfather has.
Rest in peace Papa Jake.

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October 10, 2010 | 9:19 am

Sarah Silverman speaks out about bullying kids who are gay or lesbian.

Posted by Maital Guttman

I love Sarah Silverman.  I first met her in person at the GLAAD media awards.  I love her irreverent sense of humor, but mostly I love how she uses this humor to make a point, and even make a difference.  She got young people to make the “Great Schlep” down to Florida to convince their bubbes to vote Obama.  By random good luck, I sat next to her on that cold inauguration day, 50 meters from where Obama was sworn into office.  This week is no exception to her activism, when she takes a stance against bullying people who are gay.  Importantly, she draws the connection between American policies against gay rights, including gay marriage and military service, and how these discriminatory practices send a message that trickles down to our children. 

Thank you, Sarah, for speaking out and reminding us that discrimination against gay and lesbian youth is no joke.

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October 8, 2010 | 12:35 pm

Do Not Stand Idly By: A Jewish Community Pledge to Save Lives

Posted by Naomi Goldberg

I’ve been horrified to hear about the recent rash of suicides of LGBT and other marginalized youth who have been bullied and made to feel worthless. How did we come to such a place where children feel that they have no escape from bullying but to kill themselves?  While we can work on changing the minds of bullies and training educators, parents, and community members to stop bullying, I also think that we need to focus on the individuals who are being bullied.  How can we better equip these young people to feel confident in who they are?  Bullying will happen - whether it is about your sexual orientation, where your parents came from, your accent, your clothing, or the gestures you use, you may be bullied.  But, we need to work to create communities where these young people feel supported in getting through it.  No one should feel so alone and helpless that they jump off a bridge or hang themselves.

For a while, Keshet has been working to make schools, temples, summer camps, and other Jewish spaces safer for all people - including LGBT youth.  Their programming has focused on training teachers and developing curriculum and school policies that fit within Jewish values promoting safe, supportive communities.

To this end, Keshet has started a campaign called “Do Not Stand Idly By: A Jewish Community Pledge to Save Lives.”  In conjunction with more than 90 initial cosponors from across the Jewish community, this campaign seeks to educate and empower Jews to make the world safer for youth. 

You can read more about the pledge and sign on here: http://thequeertimes.com/2010/10/jewish-community-responds-epidemic-glbt-teen-suicide/
On Monday, which is National Coming Out Day, Keshet will release the names of those who signed on.  The goal is to reach 18,000 people.  Be part of this effort.  Spread the world.  Make a difference.  Do not stand idly by.

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October 5, 2010 | 1:43 pm

‘Mo Moments

Posted by Tera Greene

A Thanksgiving Day 'Mo Moment 2009

The other day I found myself dancing gayly - I mean, happily/freely -  with fellow blogger, Kalil Cohen,  in celebration of Simchat Torah.  At one point in the night, I broke concentration from my intense jump, jivin’ and wailin’, and thought to myself whilst the Cantor and musicians got into a funky rhythm of Chiri Biri Bim, “Now all we need are disco balls…” 

G-d was either just being silly, or completely listening (and in agreement), because not too long after my thought,  I looked up and there, hanging from the ceiling, were Disco Balls!  I laughed to myself, and totally enjoyed a nice lil’ example of a Homo Moment.

A quintessential ‘Mo Moment, at that.  I couldn’t decide what was gayer, me or the gay - as in, ‘happy/festive’ - dancing and Hakafah‘ing beneath Disco Balls?  Regardless of the fact that the disco balls make total sense because we are, after all, in the 5770s, we all know the secular-calendar ‘70s were super gay, so let’s not fake the funk. 

The next day I began thinking of more ‘Mo Moments in Jewish History and have shared a short list herein.

No particular order, and yes, many have to do with Entertainment; though, let us not forget some of the gems hidden within our Biblical and Mitzvot references:

1) I’m a DJ, I used to dye my hair regularly in shades of red, and may go back to doing so.  This video, with its House music references and G-d cast as a punky-female-House Head-Disc Jockey, is definitely a good ‘Mo Moment, especially when they begin the “House music all night long” chant. Classic.

2)  Holy ‘Mo Moment, Batman! Joseph and his “multi-colored” coat.  I mean, hello?

3) The late Bernard “Bernie” Schwartz in Some Like It Hot.  Major Landmark ‘Mo Moment. Glad I got to be in his presence when I staffed this year’s 1st ever TCM Film Festival.

4) Any and Every Time the Y.M.C.A. is played at a wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah and the like.  Now those are ‘Mo Moments of upper echelon status!

5)  Glee’s character, Rachel… OK, she’s not really what I’m going for… The ‘Mo Moment lies in the fact that she is parented by two gay males, one Jewish and one Black.  Nice Modern-Family-style ‘Mo Moment (though, I’ve yet to see these guys show face on my Hulu screen when I watch Glee. Hmmm…)

6)  Harvey Bernard Milk.  His pivotal ‘Mo Moment in LGBTQ/Jewish history spanned years, and still resonates. 

And finally…

7) G-d said be fruitful and multiply.  In droves, more queers are coming out as the years go by, making less closeted lives emerge.  No, life still ain’t easy, especially for so many teens (Jewish and Non-Jewish), but we have to highlight the fact that progress is being made, to the point that more and more visible Homo Moments have been thrust into mainstream society.  Hashem said be fruitful, and thusly, the queers are multiplying! In the words of Billionaire “Monty” Burns, “Excellent.”

In celebration of LGBTQ History Month here in the United States, here’s to experiencing a ton of positive, positively ironic, and otherwise just intentionally - and unintentionally - brilliant, ‘Mo Moments for days and weeks and years to come.  There are so many already etched in time, so many more to fashion from the latest hipster fabric of time, glitter inclusive, of course…

FYI - October 11, 2010 is officially National Coming Out Day.

*****

Tera Greene is pretty much a ‘Mo Moment every step of the way… She has used National Coming Out Day at least once to open doors to her existence. Read more about her here.

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