KESHET OPPOSES WASHINGTON, D.C. DYKE MARCH ORGANIZERS’ DECISION TO BAN JEWISH STARS ON RAINBOW FLAGS

Idit Klein, President and CEO of Keshet, issued the following statement in response to Washington, D.C. Dyke March organizers’ decision to ban rainbow flags with the Star of David for its June 8th march.

“We are deeply alarmed that the organizers of tomorrow’s Washington, D.C. Dyke March have banned Stars of David on the rainbow flag. Dyke Marches around the country historically celebrate diversity and self-expression, and embrace the range of identities among Dyke March participants. Sadly, the decision by this year’s Dyke March organizers to ban a specific expression of Jewish identity undermines that effort.

“The Star of David is a symbol used by Jews for centuries – a source of both pride in identity and, when used against Jews, a source of devastating oppression. For many queer Jews, the Star of David emblazoned on a rainbow background is a celebratory expression of LGBTQ Jewish identity. It is wrong to ban it and doing so is an expression of anti-Semitism. We find this act of exclusion and censorship especially painful in a time of rising anti-Semitism in this country and around the world.

“As LGBTQ people and as Jews, we know what it feels like to be excluded. Our vision of true queer liberation is one where all of us can be our full selves. True queer liberation means that Jews, like all other identity groups, get to determine and claim our own symbols of self-expression and decide how and where those symbols appear.

“The D.C. Dyke March theme is ‘All Dykes Welcome.’ We urge the organizers to make this commitment real and reverse its wrong-headed policy. The LGBTQ community has, and always will, be strengthened by its diversity and by ensuring that all queer people are able to express their fullest selves, with pride.”

###

Keshet works for the full equality of all LGBTQ Jews and our families in Jewish life. We strengthen Jewish communities. We equip Jewish organizations with the skills and knowledge to build LGBTQ-affirming communities; create spaces in which all queer Jewish youth feel seen and valued; and advance LGBTQ rights nationwide.

For all media inquiries, please contact:

James Cohen, Chief Communications Officer

Phone: 617.524.9227 ext. 108

Email: [email protected]