Welcome LGTBQ+
Congregation Beth Israel celebrates diversity and equality and prides itself with being inclusive and accepting. Our Congregation supports, embraces, and welcomes the LGBTQIA+ Jewish communities of Houston by offering a safe space for religious fulfillment, learning, and engagment.
The Beth Israel Inclusion Committee was established to ensure that members of ALL communities are represented and welcomed in our Synagogue. Led by our Senior Associate Rabbi Adrienne Scott and an active committee made up of a diverse group of Beth Israel members from a wide scope of communities and backgrounds, our committee’s mission is simple – to provide representation and resources for the marginalized, disabled, and minority Jewish population of the greater Houston area. Our goal is to serve and stand as a reminder that despite our many differences, we are bound together by faith and tradition.
If this is your first time visiting our Synagogue, or if you or a family member are looking for spiritual counseling, our committee Ambassadors are here to provide support and guide you on your journey. Helpful links and resources are below, including our ongoing work in the area of Gender Justice:
Helpful Links and Resources:
What does LGBTQ+ mean?
What Does LGBTQ+ Mean? (verywellmind.com)
https://ok2bme.ca/resources/kids-teens/what-does-lgbtq-mean/
Judaism and LGBTQ+ Families
https://www.keshethouston.org/
Understanding Pronouns
https://lgbtlifecenter.org/pronouns/
Living Alone and Ageing
Spiritual Counseling
https://www.beth-israel.org/centerforhealing/
Interfaith Families
https://reformjudaism.org/reform-jewish-life/youth-family-community/interfaith
Jews of Color
Jews By Choice (Conversion)
Identifying Cognitive Disabilities
https://www.ocecd.org/CognitiveDisabilityResources.aspx
https://www.deque.com/blog/an-introductory-guide-to-understanding-cognitive-disabilities/
Disability Matters within Judaism
Disability Matters within Judaism | jewishideas.org
Gender Justice Articles and Resources
Made in God’s Image: Gender Diversity and Our Communal Role (Joint
Publication of the Reform Action Center of the URJ and Keshet)
Transgender Children & Youth: Understanding the Basics (from the Human Rights Campaign)
Why We Stand Up for Transgender Children and Teens (from the President of the American College of Pediatrics)
Most Trans Adults Say Transitioning Made Them More Satisfied With Their LIves (from the Washington Post)
On Behalf of the Anti-Defamation League
Link to the 2023 Texas Legislative Session Policy Series, which focused on growing attacks on the LGBTQIA community and ways to best respond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJsvpezNEVQ
Here are a few ways you can act now:
Express concern to lawmakers about the anti-LGBTQIA bills offered in this legislative session, text the word “TEXAS” to 72572.
Send the letter located at the bottom to your representative today.
Take action by contacting your representatives to stop the transphobic and anti-LGBTQ+ bills HR 734 and HR 5. Call and leave voicemails, voicing opposition and asking for votes on these bills not to be scheduled.
Stay informed on which bills are moving with Equality Texas Bill Tracker
Sign up for action alerts from Equality Texas.
Click to join Keshet in helping to mobilize Jewish communities for LGBTQ+ rights
Add your name to the Parents and Family of Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender-expansive Youth Letter prepared by the Human Rights Campaign
Sample Letter to Texas Elected Officials
“As a concerned Texas citizen, I am disheartened and terrified by the anti-LGTBQ+ bills moving through the Texas legislature this session. In recent weeks, many harmful bills have progressed, and I urge you to vote NO so that they do not stand a chance at becoming law in Texas.
Bills like SB 14 and HB 436 deny our children health-related services solely based on how they identify. These bills are dangerous, and I urge you to vote no when they come up for a vote.
Bills like SB 162 and HB 1952 ban transgender youth from updating their gender on birth certificates. These bills serve no legitimate purpose and only demonize our fellow Texans. I urge you to vote no on SB 162 and HB 1952.
Bills like SB 8 seek to ban teaching gender identity and sexual orientation for any grade level. The bill would violate constitutional free speech protections, ban lessons on some aspects of American history, and force the Texas school system to ignore the existence of LGBTQ+ people. Another school-related proposal, HB 1507, would fine schools up to $10,000 or revoke teachers’ licenses for celebrating “sexual preference.” I urge you to vote no on SB 8 and HB 1507.
Bills like SB 12 demonize the LGTBQ+ community by imposing a $10,000 fine on business owners who host drag shows in front of children. This misguided legislation is unnecessary and harmful to Texas businesses and our community as a whole.
I urge you to vote NO on this slate of bills and the many other proposals that spread hate to our LGTBQ+ community. “