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Coming Out

Coming out takes courage and resilience. And every person’s journey is unique. As we work to ensure that all LGBTQ Jews and our families are treated with dignity, respect, and full equality, we hope you will be inspired by these resources that explore the struggles and celebrations of coming out to our families, friends, rabbis, teachers, mentors, and other people in Jewish life.

Featured

How to Support Someone Who’s Trans and Just Came Out to You

This guide provides ways to respond when someone comes out to you as transgender.
Finding Radical Acceptance in Senior Living

In honor of National Coming Out Day, learn from Aviva Davis about coming out to her trusted group of elders.
Mazal Tov and Welcome! You Are A Blessing

Finding Keshet for the first time? Just came out? Finally bringing together your Jewish and LGBTQ+ selves? We are so glad you are here.
Let’s Make Rainbow Challah!

Learn how to make rainbow Challah and recite the corresponding blessing.
An OUTstanding! Conversation with Jacob and Mimi Lemay

Hear from Jacob and Mimi about their journeys and their family’s advocacy for transgender and non-binary rights. Hosting this online discussion is the brilliant and witty S. Bear Bergman.
Kol B’mishpachat Elohim: A Jewish Guide for Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families

This guide is intended to help make your congregation a welcoming place for LGBT families.
What Was a Nice Jewish Girl Like Me Doing in a Man’s Body?

Joy Ladin writes about realizing she is transgender and her coming out process.
Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School

Hineini is a one-hour documentary that chronicles the story of one student’s courageous fight to establish a Gay-Straight Alliance at a Jewish high school.
Coming Out into the Light

This Torah Commentary reminds us that just as the Torah cannot stay in the ark, so too shouldn't LGBTQ pepole stay in the closet.
Coming Out at Camp

A lesson plan for the film Hineini that teaches camp staff on how to think critically about the culture of camp as it relates to LGBTQ inclusion.
What to Do When a Teen Comes Out to You

Some concrete suggestions to consider when a teenager comes out to you.
Honoring the Process of Coming Out

Poem and blessings to accompany ritual immersion for a person who is coming out as LGBTQ compiled by Mayyim Hayyim, mikveh and educational center.
Day School Dedicates Gender Neutral Bathroom

A press release regarding the dedication of a gender neutral bathroom at a day school.
Coming Out Ceremony

Texts to read during a coming out ceremony or on National Coming Out Day.
Brit Hitvada’ut: A Coming Out Ceremony

Liturgy and ritual for a coming out ceremony.
At The Gates of Coming Out

This guide is designed to share reflections, tools, and ideas for young people who are considering coming out at work or in their communities
Creating an LGBTQ Inclusive Community

Since 2001, Keshet has been working for the full equality and inclusion of LGBTQ Jews in Jewish life. Here are the stories of some of the people that make this work possible.
Hide and Thou Shalt Weep Seek and Thou Shalt Find (Parashat Miketz)

This Torah Queery reflects on the story of Joseph's familial rejection and how that compares to the experiences of LGBTQ people with their families of origin.
Liberating Foreigners Together with Our Sisters and Brothers (Shmini Atzeret)

This Torah Queery focuses on the importance of celebrating diversity.
Reading Joseph (Parashat Vayigash)

This Torah Queery looks at Joseph's moral character to get a better sense of who he is.
And Jacob Came Out…(Parashat Vayetzei)

A Torah Queery that draws parallels between Jacob's transformation in the Wilderness with coming out.
A Trans Educator Comes Out to His Community: Sample Letter

A letter that a Director of Education at a religious school sent out to his community, coming out as transgender, written in way for young children to understand.
FINAL CUT: Circumcising Egypt (Parashat Bo)

This Torah Queery makes a connection between the act of circumcision and coming out.
Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are (Parashat Bo)

This Torah Queery makes a connection between the "coming out" of Egypts with coming out as LGBTQ.
Am (Yisrael) Comin’ Out! I want the World To Know, Got to Let it Show (Parashat Be’Ha’Alotecha)

A Torah Queery that connects the Israelites struggle for freedom with LGBTQ people's coming out experience.
Deconstructing Leviticus

A personal account that describes the authors struggle to reconcile his Jewish and Queer identities.
Add Yourself to the Acronym: Understanding (Trans)Gender in Jewish Life

A sermon exploring the experiences of transgender people and Jewish texts.
Wrestling Till Dawn (Parashat Vayishlach)

This Torah Queery draws connections between the author's experiences as a transgender woman with the life of Jacob.
Purim: Inside Out

Purim is about movement from the covert to the overt: each character has something to hide and later to reveal.
Kol Nidre: Uncovering Our True Selves

Rabbi Barbara Penzner explores the concept of ‘nistarot,’ hidden thoughts and secrets, to illuminate the different ways Jews have had to hide parts of their identities throughout Jewish history, and the ways that LGBTQ people too have had to hide parts of their identities.
How can you be gay and Jewish?

Jay Michaelson answers the question of “how can you be gay and Jewish?”
And G-d Chose Zoe Too

A story and lesson plan to teach children about different family structures.
Aliyah: Trans(Per)forming Jewish Ritual

A personal reflection on being a transgender person at synagogue.
A Quick Guide for LGBTQ+ Belonging

This guide gives quick tips and information on creating a community of belonging where everyone can feel seen, heard, and whole.

Coming Out

How to Support Someone Who’s Trans and Just Came Out to You

Finding Radical Acceptance in Senior Living

Mazal Tov and Welcome! You Are A Blessing

Let’s Make Rainbow Challah!

An OUTstanding! Conversation with Jacob and Mimi Lemay

Kol B’mishpachat Elohim: A Jewish Guide for Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families

What Was a Nice Jewish Girl Like Me Doing in a Man’s Body?

Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School

Coming Out into the Light

Coming Out at Camp

What to Do When a Teen Comes Out to You

Honoring the Process of Coming Out

Day School Dedicates Gender Neutral Bathroom

Coming Out Ceremony

Brit Hitvada’ut: A Coming Out Ceremony

At The Gates of Coming Out

Creating an LGBTQ Inclusive Community

Hide and Thou Shalt Weep Seek and Thou Shalt Find (Parashat Miketz)

Liberating Foreigners Together with Our Sisters and Brothers (Shmini Atzeret)

Reading Joseph (Parashat Vayigash)

And Jacob Came Out…(Parashat Vayetzei)

A Trans Educator Comes Out to His Community: Sample Letter

FINAL CUT: Circumcising Egypt (Parashat Bo)

Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are (Parashat Bo)

Am (Yisrael) Comin’ Out! I want the World To Know, Got to Let it Show (Parashat Be’Ha’Alotecha)

Deconstructing Leviticus

Add Yourself to the Acronym: Understanding (Trans)Gender in Jewish Life

Wrestling Till Dawn (Parashat Vayishlach)

Purim: Inside Out

Kol Nidre: Uncovering Our True Selves

How can you be gay and Jewish?

And G-d Chose Zoe Too

Aliyah: Trans(Per)forming Jewish Ritual

A Quick Guide for LGBTQ+ Belonging