Rabbis to Boy Scouts: Lift ban on gay members

Published on May 22, 2013

More than 500 rabbis and cantors urged the Boy Scouts of America to drop its ban on homosexual members when the youth group’s National Council convenes in Dallas this week.

Jewish Scouting leaders vocal on gay inclusion

Published on May 9, 2013

Jewish Scouting leaders are taking a vocal role in efforts to pass a historic resolution that would partially lift a ban on gays in the Boy Scouts of America.

Little Boxes on the Hillside

By Beit T'shuvah
Published on March 14, 2013

The queerness of love: A Jewish case for same-sex marriage

Published on January 24, 2013

Last year, I officiated at the first same-sex wedding in the 145-year history of my synagogue. For a Conservative congregation, this was quite a break with tradition.

One more reason to love Boy Scouts of America…

By Julia Bendis
Published on July 19, 2012

Orthodox gay activist sues cousin for assault

Published on July 3, 2012

An Orthodox blogger sued his cousin, whose family owns a large New York Judaica store, for assaulting him.

Gad Beck, the last known gay Holocaust survivor, dies at 88

Published on June 26, 2012

Gad Beck, the last known gay Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, died in Berlin.

Conservative rabbis approve same-sex marriage ceremonies

Published on June 1, 2012

The Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards -- which sets halachic policy for the Conservative movement -- has voted unanimously to provide the approximately 1,600 Conservative rabbis with guidelines on performing same-sex marriages.

Jewish groups back Obama on gay marriage

Published on May 9, 2012

Jewish leaders praised President Barack Obama’s statement that he personally supports gay marriage.

Proposition 8 overturn prompts hundreds to celebrate in West Hollywood [VIDEO]

By Ryan Torok
Published on February 7, 2012

California gay marriage ban overturned, appeal planned

Published on February 7, 2012

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday found California's gay marriage ban unconstitutional in a case that is likely to lead to a showdown on the issue in the U.S. Supreme Court. Proponents of the ban said they would appeal the ruling, and the Protect Marriage coalition that sponsored the ban called the judgment "out of step with every other federal appellate and Supreme Court decision." The appeal is likely to keep gay marriage on hold pending future proceedings.

Homosexual Israeli soldiers claim harassment

Published on August 16, 2011

Gay and lesbian soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces said they have been sexually harassed during their military service.

Preparing for Same-Gender Weddings

Published on June 28, 2011

All eyes will still be on New York in the coming weeks as the state prepares for marriage equality. I learned a lot in the run-up to wedding mania here in California in 2008, so I thought I would share some tips with those in New York.

James Franco Q & A:  His Film on Tortured Gay Poet Hart Crane

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on June 15, 2011

Synagogues Working to Be More Open to Gays

Published on March 13, 2009

[UPDATE] The newsletter sent out last month by Temple Israel of New Rochelle contained the usual sort of announcements, including a reminder about the synagogue’s upcoming Purim carnival, mazal tovs and condolences, and information about a social event at a local steakhouse.

Marriage is a Jewish issue

Published on November 20, 2008

Parshat Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18) God is present when two people commit their lives to each other and become one family.

It can’t happen here

By Rob Eshman
Published on November 12, 2008

"People choose to remain gay, and people choose to remain Jewish," said an organizer. "Why should the majority of us be forced to honor that choice?"

Two out of state rabbis offer two opinions on anti-gay-marriage Prop. 8

Published on November 3, 2008

A Reform rabbi (No on 8) and an Orthodox rabbi (Yes on 8) offer their opinions on the controversial ballot measure

Religious “No!” to Proposition 8

Published on October 28, 2008

Proposition 8 is California ballot initiative that legally restricts marriage to only a relationship between a man and a woman, depriving gays and lesbians a state mandated constitutional civil right.  In opposing this ballot-measure, I know I am optimistically standing on firm religious ground. 

Herb Gold, elder statesman of the Beat Generation, writes on

By Tom Teicholz
Published on August 13, 2008

It was at college that he first met Allen Ginsberg. "He was 17. He was a bit crazy, and he was more eccentric than I was," Gold said.

Torah Judaism has no concept of ‘ex-gay’

Published on August 5, 2008

Since 2002, when I started becoming open about my personal religious choice to stop having sex with men, liberals on gay issues have repeatedly accused me of being a Jewish "ex-gay.

Islamic tales of forbidden love, lovers

By Nick Street
Published on July 2, 2008

Early in "A Jihad for Love," a new documentary directed by Parvez Sharma and produced by Sandi Simcha Dubowski, we meet Mazen, a 20-something Egyptian man who has fled Cairo for Paris to avoid the three-year prison sentence authorities want to impose on him because he is gay.

Gays get married and I’m still single

By Amy Klein
Published on June 26, 2008

Maybe gay marriage is just what the world needs to make weddings sane.

Big Bay Area Jewish turnout for gay weddings

Published on June 22, 2008

As dozens of gay couples celebrated legal weddings at San Francisco City Hall, Jews representing numerous organizations set up a chupah, volunteers passed out plates of marble cake frosted with the phrase "Mazel Tov" and invited couples to partake in rituals.

Same-sex marriage and the fabric of society: What does it all mean?

By Julie G Fax
Published on June 17, 2008

For some, it is a spiritual moment of human dignity finally resting upon everyone. For others, it is a sign that society is being sucked into an eddy of moral dissolution.

Gay rabbis getting married—and marrying

By Amy Klein Religion Editor
Published on June 17, 2008

It is a momentous day for gay and lesbian couples -- but doubly meaningful for rabbis in same-sex relationships: Not only can they marry, but they can perform legal marriages for other same-sex couples, too.

Gay Orthodox Rabbi Peels Back His Life

By Sandee Brawarsky
Published on May 6, 2004

"Like peeling an onion," Rabbi Steven Greenberg said, about the process of coming out.

Your Letters

Published on March 6, 2003

Was Hitler Gay?

By Mike Levy
Published on November 15, 2001

With more than 100,000 books and scholarly articles over the last 50 years, you might think we know all we need to know about Adolph Hitler. At least, everything relevant.

Scout’s Honor

By Rob Eshman
Published on January 25, 2001

Marvin Himlin believes with all his heart that the Boy Scouts of America and the United States Supreme Court did right by keeping avowed homosexuals from leadership positions in the Scouts. "Young kids coming into their sexuality are too impressionable, and I don't think kids need to be introduced to that."

Rabbi, I’m gay

By Julie G Fax
Published on May 20, 1999

Rabbi Steven Greenberg usually kept quiet through the gay jokes. After all, he had been in the closet in the Orthodox community for 20 years, so he was used to smiling through the ridicule, through tirades about same-sex marriage.

An Unlikely Inspiration

By Larry Derfner
Published on May 14, 1998

Early Sunday morning, just before 1 a.m. Israelitime, a roar was heard coming out of living rooms across the country.Israel had just won the annual Eurovision Song Contest, held thisyear in Birmingham, England, and watched by as many as 100 million TVviewers in Europe and Asia. Wildest of all, Israel's representativeat the contest was singer Dana International, a tall, dark,thirtysomething transsexual who had grown up as a boy named YaronCohen.

The Arts

By Sally Ogle Davis
Published on March 26, 1998

What a peculiar piece of work is "Bent." The film version ofMartin Sherman's play, first presented on the London stage in 1979,and later on Broadway, has taken almost 20 years to come to thescreen. It's not difficult to see why. Not only is it turgid stuff,with a paucity of unfilmable ideas, but in an industry that sometimesseems to specialize in specious history, it will be hard to matchthis one for irresponsibility.

Piggybacking on Jewish Suffering

By Sally Ogle Davis
Published on December 4, 1997

What a peculiar piece of work is "Bent." The film version of Martin Sherman's play, first presented on the London stage in 1979,and later on Broadway, has taken almost 20 years to come to the screen. It's not difficult to see why. Not only is it turgid stuff,with a paucity of unfilmable ideas, but in an industry that sometimes seems to specialize in specious history, it will be hard to match this one for irresponsibility.

Open-Door Policy

By Ruth Stroud
Published on June 19, 1997

They are your brother, your cousin, your lawyer, your best friend, or possibly yourself. Yet, while there are as many gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the Jewish community as in any other, they often feel like outcasts in their own faith, afraid that they can't be open about their sexuality and a committed Jew as well.