This past week the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) passed A Resolution on the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People. While a resolution is not binding on URJ congregations, it does set a standard for policy in URJ congregations. The URJ is the association of the 900 Reform congregations across North America, just as the CCAR is the association of Reform rabbis, and the ACC is the association of Reform cantors.
This is a landmark resolution. As the International Business Times reported, “It is the most comprehensive and extensive set of guidelines for transgender rights adopted by any major religious organization.”
The resolution addresses the very real concerns and needs of transgender and gender non-conforming members of our congregations and communities. I am sure that someone, somewhere, is saying that this is just the Reform movement being trendy, but the truth is that we have these members among our families and we need to serve them properly and with care for their dignity. We are also responsible as Jews to speak up for the disenfranchised and the oppressed in our larger society. All human beings are b’tzelem Elohim, made in the image of the Holy One. As such, there is no excuse, ever, for causing a person embarrassment, much less physical distress. Every human being has a right to physical safety and human dignity.
A resolution is not a revolution. It is likely that every congregation falls short in some aspect of the ideals enumerated below. It’s up to us to make teshuvah for past wrongs and to make the necessary adjustments in our social action, in our buildings, in our paperwork, in our classrooms, and in our language. We can do this.
I invite your feedback and discussion in the comments after you read the resolution. What do you like in it? What troubles you? What do you wish were there?
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Resolution on the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People
Submitted by the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism
Background
Throughout the Reform Movement’s history, we have worked tirelessly to fight discrimination, support equality, and strengthen the rights of minorities and women. In 1977, both the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis passed resolutions affirming “the rights of homosexuals.” We welcome and celebrate people of all sexual orientations in our congregations and oppose laws that fail to uphold principles of equality for all. North American culture and society have, in general, become increasingly accepting of people who are gay, lesbian and bisexual, yet too often transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are forced to live as second-class citizens.
“Transgender” is a term for people whose gender identity, expression or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth. Gender non-conforming is a term for individuals whose gender expression is different from societal expectations related to gender.
Although much work remains to be done to fully overcome discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people, members of the transgender and gender non-conforming communities face particular ongoing legal and cultural bigotry and discrimination. Transgender individuals are often unable to easily update their government documents, such as passports and birth certificates, in order to reflect their correct gender and name. As a result, transgender individuals can be denied the right to vote because their documents do not match their gender. In Canada, six provinces (Ontario, 20 Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., and Newfoundland) and one territory (Northwest 21 Territories) offer protections based on gender identity yet a federal bill has long been stalled in Parliament.1 In both the U.S. and Canada, transgender individuals experience frequent incidents of hate crimes and harassment, and often face discrimination in employment, healthcare and housing. Simply choosing their preferred pronoun or accessing facilities based on their gender identity without facing others’ objections or fearing violence can be a challenge for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. The combined impact of all of these factors has contributed to higher than average poverty, homelessness and suicide rates among transgender people.23
Efforts within the Reform Movement over the past decade reflect our commitment to greater inclusivity of transgender and gender non-conforming people. In 2003, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion admitted its first openly transgender rabbinical student. Recently, both NFTY and URJ camps have taken steps to become more inclusive of transgender participants in their material, application forms, facilities and programs. In 2015, the Central Conference of American Rabbis’ Rabbinical Placement Commission updated its policies to require that congregations and other organizations seeking a rabbi commit to including in their search all candidates regardless of gender identity. The Reform Movement has also built partnerships with organizations like Keshet (www.keshetonline.org), to create and improve resources for our congregations, institutions, affiliates and programs. Despite this important progress, there is more work to be done to make our Movement and our society fully inclusive of transgender and gender non-conforming people.
Two key Reform responsa highlight the imperative toward full inclusion of transgender people in accordance with Jewish tradition. A 1990 responsum (CCAR 5750.8) affirmed that being transgender alone is not a basis to deny someone conversion to Judaism. A 1978 responsum affirmed that a rabbi may officiate at the wedding of two Jews if one partner has transitioned to the gender with which they identify, as opposed to the one they were assigned at birth (“Marriage After a Sex-change Operation” in American Reform Responsa, Vol. LXXXVIII, 1978, pp. 52-54). These responsa reflect biblical tradition that teaches us that all human beings are created b’tselem Elohim—in the Divine image. As it says in Genesis 1:27, “And God created humans in God’s image, in the image of God, God created them.” From this bedrock principle stems our commitment to defend any individual from the discrimination that arises from ignorance, fear, insensitivity, or hatred. Knowing that members of the transgender and gender non-conforming communities are often singled out for discrimination and even violence, we are reminded of the Torah’s injunction, “do not stand idly while your neighbor bleeds” (Leviticus 19:16).
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Union for Reform Judaism:
- Affirms its commitment to the full equality, inclusion and acceptance of people of all gender identities and gender expressions;
- Affirms the right of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals to be referred to by their name, gender, and pronoun of preference in our congregations, camps, schools, and other Reform affiliated organizations;
- Encourages Reform congregations, congregants, clergy, camps, institutions and affiliates, including NFTY, to continue to advocate for the rights of people of all gender identities and gender expressions;
- Urges the adoption and implementation of legislation and policies that prevent discrimination based on gender identity and expression, and that require individuals to be treated equally under the law as the gender by which they identify. This includes establishing the right to change without undue burden their identification documents to reflect their gender and name and ensuring equal access to medical and social services;
- Calls on the U.S. and Canadian governments at all levels to review and revise all laws and policies to ensure full equality and protections for people of all gender identities and expressions;
- Urges Reform Movement institutions to begin or continue to work with local and national Jewish transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual organizations to create inclusive and welcoming communities for people of all gender identities and expressions and to spread awareness and increase knowledge of issues related to gender identity and expression. These activities may include cultural competency trainings for religious school staff, the new congregational resource guide on transgender inclusion being created by the Religious Action Center, education programs on gender identity and expression, and sermons on the topic of gender identity and gender expression;
- Recommends URJ congregations and Reform Movement institutions, facilities and events ensure, to the extent feasible, the availability of gender-neutral restrooms and other physical site needs that ensure dignity and safety for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals;
- Urges Reform Movement institutions to review their use of language in prayers, forms and policies in an effort to ensure people of all gender identities and gender expressions are welcomed, included, accepted and respected. This includes developing statements of inclusion and/or non-discrimination policies pertaining to gender identity and gender expression, the use when feasible of gender-neutral language, and offering more than two gender options or eliminating the need to select a gender on forms; and
- Will work in collaboration with other Reform Movement institutions to create ritual, programmatic and educational materials that will empower such institutions to be more inclusive and welcoming of people of all gender identities and expressions.
[1]http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/transgender-bill/
(JOYFUL JUMPING, TEARS IN EYES!!!)
Thank you for posting this. Reading about this wonderful inclusive URJ resolution – unanimously voted, and followed by a spontaneous standing ovation – made me so joyful.
I am so glad this was passed. I’m so glad that we will have a framework and practical SOPs to help affirm the dignity and worth of our transgender friends, neighbors, and family. I’m so glad our 1.5 million member group can help put pressure on governments to pass basic human rights for transgender people. I’m so glad to be part of a religious movement that keeps pushing for social justice.
This resolution is a first step, and things won’t get better over night. But this is such an important first step, and one that fills me with hope.
I’m hopeful that this will help educate people, so that transgender people do not face rejection or rebuke over which bathroom they face, when they should be able to celebrate community and love at a temple or URJ camp. I hope that asking for and using preferred pronouns will become standard practice. I hope that our transgender and non- binary/ genderqueer folks will feel welcomed and accepted and loved exactly as they are.
I agree, education can make a huge difference, and this will help. While Jews are a tiny minority in the U.S. (2% of the population) this is a bold stance and it is getting a lot of publicity. So often religion is associated with trouble for LGBT minorities; I like the idea that this may encourage other “people of faith” to take a good hard look at their assumptions. Also, it’s a resolution not only for action within the congregation, but for social action: I am hoping that this will mean new volunteer and fundraising energy for organizations that support Trans rights, like the Transgender Law Center.
This is well written and so very important. I found the background to the resolution pretty important. I had not really thought through the issue of a birth certificate not matching up and then blocking a person from voting or getting a passport, etc. We need to be able to issue a rre-birth certificate! Thanks for posting the resolution information.
As Flaubert wrote, “Le bon Dieu est dans le detail” – God is in the details! The birth certificate issue is huge, because it impacts so many other things.
I think it’s wonderful that the Union took a stand on this issue, and I agree that the Resolution was well-written and should have been passed.
But I’m left wondering how much impact it will actually have at an individual congregant level.
For example, I have been asking for years to join Brotherhood — because as a lesbian who cares not about traditional female tasks and would rather build a sukkah, watch football, and talk with “the guys”, it is where I would feel more comfortable — but I’m now at my second Reform congregation where that is not allowed. So, will a pre-op transsexual be left in limbo-land with me, or will he be permitted to join Brotherhood?
I think the Union is moving in the right direction. I just think we have to be realistic that ignorance-based and fear-based prejudice and discrimination will continue to occur against individual trans-gendered people (just as it continues to occur against individual gays and lesbians in some Reform congregations), and we have to continue to support those people as they deal with their individual (and sometimes extremely painful) situations, rather than assuming discrimination no longer occurs because a resolution was passed. Thanks, jen
Great points, Jen, and thanks for sharing your experiences. I agree, it would be unrealistic to expect that suddenly everyone would ‘get it’ and our spaces would instantly transform into perfectly warm and supportive spaces. We need to be realistic, that this is a beginning and not an end, and that a lot of education and falling short will happen. So you’re right to be cautious. I’m hoping that this helps set our collective feet on the right path, knowing we’ll be imperfect.
I recently talked with a Christian about how her church’s official stance is that homosexuality is a sin, and gay people can only be in their church if they feel guilty for being so flawed and sinful. It made me want to break things. That conversation made me so thankful to be in a religion that embraces and supports LGBTQ people – imperfectly at times, but striving to rise above those flawed impulses, rather than codifying them.
You’re right, Jen, there’s a long path from talk to action sometimes.
As for the Brotherhood/Sisterhood issue you mention, there may be another issue besides gender in it. Politics in congregations can get pretty thick, especially around Sisterhood and Brotherhood. I don’t know why this is the case, but I’ve seen it many times. There may be history informing the rigidity on this in your congregations. At the same time, I hear your frustration!
Thank you for the political context information for Brotherhood and Sisterhood. Shavua tov.
Reblogged this on John Oliver Mason.