Hillel Gets Gay-Friendly
The college experience just became a little more welcoming toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Jewish students. Last month, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life released The Hillel LGBTQ Resource Guide, designed to aid Hillel professionals in welcoming, affirming and engaging LGBTQ college students at their respective universities.
But the guide, which is available in its entirety online, can also benefit Jewish LGBTQ students (and their allies) more directly — it features a number of resources that will appeal to students, including personal stories, a Jewish LGBTQ history, and lists of gay-friendly Jewish organizations and out Jewish professionals. Furthermore, the guide provides helpful sections like “How to Avoid Being Offensive When You Don’t Mean It,” “LGBTQ 101: Sexual Orientation vs. Gender Identity” and a “Glossary of Terms,” which will be useful to everyone interested in embracing acceptance, in a university setting and elsewhere.
Apparently, the 186-page resource guide was a long time coming, the result of a years-long, often-secretive effort by a group of Hillel professionals who began meeting in the early 1990s. The end result is an invaluable Jewish resource that presents relevant information in a way that is both engaging and educational. Kudos, Hillel, for encouraging our campuses to embrace and celebrate the idea that – gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, questioning or otherwise — we are all created b’tselem elohim.
Apparently, the 186-page resource guide was a long time coming, the result of a years-long, often-secretive effort by a group of Hillel professionals who began meeting in the early 1990s. The end result is an invaluable Jewish resource that presents relevant information in a way that is both engaging and educational. Kudos, Hillel, for encouraging our campuses to embrace and celebrate the idea that – gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, questioning or otherwise — we are all created b’tselem elohim.