Conservative Rabbis affirm rights of trans and gender non-conforming people

By Rob Howard
Associate Editor

In the political furor over North Carolina’s anti-LGBT and anti-transgender HB2, and laws passed or attempted to be passed in other states, sometimes some good news doesn’t find its way to our attention.

So it was great news that the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism passed a resolution affirming the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people. “Three Christian denominations and two other Jewish denominations have made similar statements in favor of rights for those whose gender identity does not match their sex identified at birth,” according to the Washington Post.

In the Assembly’s press release announcing the resolution, the group said, “In light of continued discrimination against individuals who are transgender or gender non-conforming, the world’s Conservative and Masorti rabbis for the first time have passed a stand-alone resolution affirming the rights of such individuals.

“’With this year’s robust set of resolutions, the Rabbinical Assembly reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to justice in all segments of society,’ said Rabbi Edward C. Bernstein, who co-chaired the Rabbinical Assembly Resolutions Committee with Rabbi David Baum.

“The transgender resolution encourages all bodies affiliated with the Conservative movement, including synagogues, schools and camps, to work toward becoming welcoming and inclusive places for people of all gender identities. The measure builds upon a 2011 Resolution in Support of Equal Rights and Inclusion for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Persons, focusing this time specifically on transgender and non-conforming individuals.”

“The Rabbinical Assembly called on synagogues, camps, schools and other institutions affiliated with the Conservative movement to make sure their facilities meet the needs of transgender people and to use the names and pronouns that people prefer. It also encouraged Conservative institutions to advocate for national and local policies on behalf of transgender people,” reported the Post.

The group said, "In light of continued discrimination against individuals who are transgender or gender non-conforming, the world’s Conservative and Masorti rabbis for the first time have passed a stand-alone resolution affirming the rights of such individuals.

“With this year’s robust set of resolutions, the Rabbinical Assembly reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to justice in all segments of society,” said Rabbi Edward C. Bernstein, who co-chaired the Rabbinical Assembly Resolutions Committee with Rabbi David Baum.

The transgender resolution encourages all bodies affiliated with the Conservative movement, including synagogues, schools and camps, to work toward becoming welcoming and inclusive places for people of all gender identities. The measure builds upon a 2011 Resolution in Support of Equal Rights and Inclusion for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, And Transgender (GLBT) Persons, focusing this time specifically on transgender and non-conforming individuals.

The Assembly’s statement said, “’Given the many states and municipalities that have been passing discriminatory laws aimed at individuals who are transgender and non-conforming, we felt it was especially important to highlight our support for those individuals,; said Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president. ‘As the resolution notes, rabbinic tradition emphasizes the importance of kvod habriyot, human dignity. With this resolution, we want to remind all institutions affiliated with the Conservative movement of this tradition, and urge them to recognize the needs of these individuals and treat them with the greatest respect.’”

The resolution states, in part, “Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has advocated to end discrimination against minority communities, including the LGBT community, and 

“Whereas discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming people exists, including but not limited to the ability to obtain proper medical benefits, secure employment, and legally change their gender on government-related documents that guarantee the right to vote; and

“Whereas many governments have increasingly extended protections to transgender people in the areas of health care, employment, and access to retirement benefits;

“Whereas it is increasingly becoming the norm to affirm the dignity of transgender people through the implementation of accommodations in both site facilities and language;

“Whereas the literature of halakhah, from the Mishnah to contemporary responsa, affirms the variety of non-binary gender expression throughout history, granting transgender people the obligations and privileges of all Jews;

“Therefore, be it resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly affirm its commitment to the full welcome, acceptance, and inclusion of people of all gender identities in Jewish life and general society.”

The resolution continues on to contain the encouragement to all parts of the Conservative movement that the Post reported, and concluded by urging Conservative organizations to educate their constituencies on the needs of trans and gender non-conforming communities, and urged governments to insure the full equality of transgender people under the law.

Read the full resolution of the Rabbinical Assembly here.

The Gayly – June 6, 2016 @ 1 p.m.