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Our political landscape continues to shift under the current administration. Through confusing executive orders, arbitrary court decisions, and a rise in coordinated disinformation campaigns, federal and state laws are constantly in flux. While there are protections for LGBTQ+ people at the federal level in some areas, such as employment discrimination, many protections are not guaranteed at the state level. For example, access to gender-affirming healthcare, inclusive school curricula, or protections against hate crimes vary drastically based on where you live.

Your rights should not change because your address does. As Jews, we are taught that every human being is created b’tzelem Elohim — in the divine image — and that all should be treated with dignity and respect.

At Keshet, we are hearing from community members who feel like they’re in spaces of relative safety in this political moment — whether in California, Oregon, the Northeast, or elsewhere — and want to show up as advocates to take meaningful action where support is needed most urgently.

So, what can you do as someone who may live in a place with stronger protections but wants to have a broader impact? Here are some ways you can show up to protect LGBTQ+ rights both at the federal level and in states facing regressive policies.

Legislative & Political Action

• Push for proactive protections. Many blue states have good laws, but there’s always room to strengthen them.
  • Expanded gender-affirming care protections
  • Non-discrimination laws that explicitly include LGBTQ+ people
  • Bans on conversion therapy
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive curricula in Jewish and public schools
• Thank your legislators who are affirming and supportive
  • In the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, we often contact those who can make decisions regarding our well-being and ask them to protect us. To center our joy and our community’s needs, we must also thank those who have championed our cause and give them the energy to keep going.

Amplify National Advocacy: Federal rollbacks affect local communities even in a blue state — contact elected officials to push for

• The Equality Act (or generally, federal LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protections)

• Fighting judicial appointments that threaten LGBTQ+ rights

• Opposing a federal abortion ban, which disproportionately harms LGBTQ+ people

• Urge your elected officials (even the ones on our side!) not to leave any part of our community behind when it comes to legislation, especially trans folks who are being primarily targeted

Community-Based Action

• Counteract anti-LGBTQ+ misinformation in your circles — Keshet offers resources that can help
• Advocate for synagogues, JCCs, and day schools to adopt Keshet’s Safe Haven Guidelines for trans and LGBQ+ Jews
  • Ex: Push for every Jewish space to have gender-neutral bathrooms and explicit LGBTQ+ protections in their policies
• Bring Keshet’s Education & Training Team into your synagogue, school, or summer camp
• Establish or strengthen LGBTQ+ affinity groups in synagogues and community centers

Bring Keshet’s Community Mobilization to Your Community to Advocate

• Host Jewish-centered letter-writing campaigns to elected officials — thank you notes are also meaningful and effective!
• Encourage synagogue boards and rabbis to support trans dignity and LGBQ+ rights publicly — one way to do this is by joining the Thrive coalition
• Attend Keshet’s advocacy events and bring more community members along
• Sign the Jewish Pledge for Trans Dignity and invite members of your community to do the same — discuss the suggested action steps as a group and decide which ones you will take on together

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Keshet envisions a world in which all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity.  Stay connected by joining our email list and following us on social media.

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