100+ U.S. Jewish Organizations Send Letter to Congress Opposing Anti-Transgender Sports Ban

January 15, 2025

By Keshet and the Union for Reform Judaism

Boston, MA January 15, 2025  On behalf of Keshet, the Union for Reform Judaism, and 100 additional Jewish organizations, the following letter was shared with members of Congress in opposition to H.R. 28/S. 9, an anti-transgender sports ban.

January 14th, 2025

Dear Member of Congress,

On behalf of the 106 undersigned national, state, and local Jewish organizations, we write to express our opposition to the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28/ S. 9). Driven by our Jewish values, we are committed to supporting laws that protect the civil rights and individual liberties of all people. Rather than protecting transgender children, this bill would do harm by banning transgender women and girls from participating in school sports teams consistent with their gender identity.

Jewish tradition teaches that all people are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image, and are worthy of dignity and respect. Judaism also specifically recognizes the diversity of gender identity. In fact, our Jewish legal texts mention at least six different genders. As organizations grounded in Jewish values and beliefs, we have an ethical and moral responsibility to fight for a society that ensures the humanity of all people. Every person is entitled to a life free from discrimination.

Two-thirds of Americans across the political spectrum oppose these anti-trans sports bans – including 69 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of Independents, and 66 percent of Republicans. Furthermore, 79 percent of all Americans and 85 percent of Jewish Americans support protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ people. It is clear that the U.S. population, across political spectrums and faith communities, does not support this kind of discriminatory legislation. 

This bill perpetuates a false narrative that transgender athletes harm and threaten women’s sports. There is no evidence that transgender athletes have an advantage over cisgender athletes; every athlete is unique, and multiple factors contribute to athletic success. There are many real issues facing women’s sports teams, including disproportionate funding and resources compared to their male counterparts — transgender athletes are not one of them. It is for these reasons that many leading women’s and girls’ rights organizations opposed this bill in the 118th Congress. Transgender women are women and deserve to participate in sports teams that align with their gender identity.

Furthermore, anti-transgender policies such as this sports ban actively harm LGBTQ+ youth and detract from real issues facing LGBTQ+ youth. According to a survey conducted by the Trevor Project, 83 percent of trans and nonbinary youth have worried about being denied the ability to play sports due to anti-trans legislation. This bill would also jeopardize children’s mental health; the same survey found that over half of transgender youth seriously considered suicide and one in five trans and nonbinary youth attempted suicide in the past year. However, they also found that “LGBTQ youth who found their school to be LGBTQ-affirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide.” Trans and nonbinary youth need protections that will make schools and communities more inclusive and affirming, not threaten their health and dignity. 

As Jewish organizations, we firmly believe that all people deserve the right to live as their complete selves, without fear and intimidation. We support transgender people’s civil rights because of our Jewish values, not in spite of them. For all these reasons, we urge you to vote no on H.R. 28 / S. 9.

Sincerely,

Keshet
Union for Reform Judaism

National Organizations:
A Wider Bridge
Academy for Jewish Religion
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
Ameinu
American Conference of Cantors
Avodah
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Cantors Assembly
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Clergylifeline.org
Habonim Dror North America
Hebrew College
J Street
Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Women International
Jews for a Secular Democracy
JQ International
JQY
Judaism Your Way
Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute
Moving Traditions
Men of Reform Judaism
National Council of Jewish Women
NFTY Reform Jewish Youth Movement
Rabbinical Assembly
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Society for Humanistic Judaism
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
The Shalom Center
The Workers Circle
The World Congress of LGBT Jews, Keshet Ga’avah
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s League for Conservative Judaism

State and Local Organizations:

Arizona

Or Adam Congregation for Humanist Judaism
Rabbi Joseph H. Gumbiner Community Action Project at Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center

Arkansas

Taste of Olam Haba

California

Beth Chayim Chadashim
Beth Shir Shalom
Coastal Roots Farm
Congregation Am HaYam
Congregation Beth Shalom of Palm Desert
Congregation Sha’ar Zahav
Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
Nefesh LA
Or Hamidbar, Palm Springs
Sha’ar Zahav’s Trans and Nonbinary Committee
Temple B’nai Hayim

Colorado

Congregation Har HaShem
Congregation HEA
Hebrew Educational Alliance
Up In The Chair Florida
Temple Adath Or
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton

Georgia

National Council of Jewish Women Atlanta Section
SOJOURN: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity
Tzedek Georgia

Illinois

Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
Mishkan Chicago

Kansas

Congregation Kol Ami- Kansas City

Massachusetts

Havurat Shalom
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston
TBA
TBZ Brookline
Temple B’nai Abraham
Temple Emanu-El of Haverhill
Temple Ohabei Shalom
Temple Reyim – Areyvut (Social Justice) Committee
Temple Shir Tikva

Maryland

Columbia Jewish Congregation
JPride Baltimore

Michigan

Detroit Jews for Justice

Minnesota

Jewish Community Action

Missouri

Central Reform Congregation
Congregation Shaare Emeth
Gateway Community of Humanistic Judaism
National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis
Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School

North Carolina

Carolina Jews for Justice
Jewish Community Center of Asheville
Jewish Family Services of Greensboro
Limitless Judaism

New Hampshire

Temple Israel-Portsmouth

New Jersey

Temple Beth-El of NJ

New York

Fort Tryon Jewish Center
Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester
Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)
Kane Street Synagogue
Lab/Shul
National Council of Jewish Women New York
New York Jewish Agenda

Pennsylvania

Kesher Pittsburgh
Tribe 12

Texas

Beth Torah
Congregation Emanu El
Makom Shelanu Congregation
National Council of Jewish Women Greater Dallas Section

Texas Jews for Justice

Virginia

Agudas Achim Congregation

Washington D.C.

Bet Mishpachah
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington