Jewish tradition teaches us to treat every single person with respect and dignity.

Increasingly, laws are being proposed that hurt trans and LGBQ+ young people and our families. Keshet and SOJOURN are bringing together Jewish organizations to send a clear message: we must love, protect, and fight for trans and LGBQ+ youth and all LGBTQ+ people.
Taking action for LGBTQ+ rights is a mitzvah!

A group of people in a parade with rainbow flags with Stars of David on them.

Together, our Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth sends the message:

We affirm that every single person, of every gender and identity, is created b’Tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image.
We are committed to pikuach nefesh, saving lives.
We are proud that our young people are expressing their full selves.
We refuse to push kids — or anyone — into narrow definitions of who they are and who they can be.
We support parents and families who fight for their kids’ safety and dignity.

Upcoming Events

February 5th

March 5th

April 2nd

Thrive Coalition meetings occur monthly with advocacy opportunities shared on an ongoing basis. Coalition members will receive meeting details and reminders.

FAQ

What is Thrive?

Thrive is a coalition for Jewish community institutions that want to protect and advance LGBTQ+ civil rights on both state and federal levels. Coalition members receive vital, accessible information and resources to educate and activate their communities to affirm the dignity and humanity of LGBTQ+ youth.

Thrive is a project of Keshet, an organization advancing LGBTQ equality in Jewish life across North America and SOJOURN, which empowers communities to advance and celebrate gender and sexual diversity across the Southern United States.

What does Thrive hope to accomplish?

Thrive provides opportunities for organizations and their communities to learn about and push back against anti-trans and anti-LGBQ+ legislation, especially bills that impact trans youth.

Members can choose to:

  • Learn how anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is connected to other systems of oppression, such as antisemitism and racism.
  • Develop the tools needed to speak about and take action on trans and LGBQ+ issues.
  • Collaborate for bold action to defeat harmful bills and advance pro-equality legislation on the state and federal levels.
What types of organizations can or should join?

Thrive welcomes any Jewish organization that believes trans and LGBQ+ youth deserve to live with dignity, safety, and respect.

What is the obligation and time commitment?

Thrive asks that Coalition members commit to the dignity and humanity of LGBTQ+ youth, but we do not have specific requirements for engagement. We encourage members to attend our monthly meetings or watch meeting recordings, stay up to date on coalition resources, and take action on state and federal levels as appropriate and desired.

Why should Jewish organizations get involved?

As Jews, we have an ethical imperative to treat each person as holy and deserving of respect and dignity. When we speak out for LGBTQ+ equality as Jews, we change the narrative that “religious” means anti-LGBTQ+. It’s a mitzvah, a religious obligation, to fight for the freedom and dignity of all people.

We know that harmful and pervasive anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is connected to all forms of hate, including antisemitism and racism. We must fight back together against these attacks on our communities. The greatest mitzvah in Judaism is to save a life. Devastatingly, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are disproportionately prevalent among LGBTQ+ youth. When we defend trans and LGBQ+ young people, whether by fighting for LGBTQ+ equality, preventing passage of anti-LGBTQ+ policy, or by creating communities of safety, connection, and belonging, we protect and affirm the lives of LGBTQ+ youth.

What are the current legal threats to trans and LGBQ+ youth?

A small group of elected leaders across dozens of states are proposing and enacting policies that deny trans and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer youth the basic dignities of life.

In 2023, over 520 anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies have been proposed with 70 anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed in 23 states, the vast majority of which target trans youth. This number will likely continue to go up as legislative sessions continue throughout the year.

These policy attacks are gutting. They don’t stop young people from being trans or LGBQ+, but anti-LGBTQ+ policies do make it much harder for kids to grow up feeling loved and safe. Jewish youth and Jewish families in states with anti-trans and anti-LGBQ+ policies are losing access to life- saving healthcare and live in fear for their safety.

The specific types of laws targeting trans and LGBQ+ youth include:

BANS ON HEALTH CARE FOR MINORS
Prevent youth from being able to access puberty blockers, hormones, or other best practice medical care that alleviates gender dysphoria and allows them to present as the gender they know themselves to be. Sometimes these laws establish criminal penalties for health care providers or families.

BATHROOM BANS
Prevent trans and nonbinary students at public schools from using the bathrooms that best align with their gender identity. Some bills also ban trans adults from using public restrooms.

DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS
Often tacked on to other anti-trans legislation, they require public school officials to notify parents if a student speaks to an adult at school about questioning their gender or sexuality. For students who do not feel safe sharing this information with their parents, these requirements make it unsafe to talk to other trusted adults.

“DON’T SAY GAY” BILLS
Ban discussion of, or allow parents to sue teachers and schools for discussing, diverse genders or sexualities in public school classrooms under certain age limits. They are often vague in ways that make teachers fearful of discussing even the basic existence of LGBTQ+ people.

SPORTS BANS
Prevent trans student athletes at public schools and universities from playing on the sports teams that align with their gender identity, and almost always exclusively focus on barring trans girls and women from teams.

As Jews, we know the perils of standing by and remaining silent. For the sake of people’s lives and basic dignity, we must take action.

Can a 501(c)3 organization join Thrive?

Yes! Keshet and SOJOURN are both 501(c)3 organizations and Thrive is a nonpartisan coalition that welcomes 501(c)3 organizations. All Thrive activities abide by IRS guidelines for 501(c)3 non-profit organizations.

Is there someone I can talk to about questions I still have regarding Thrive?

Of course! Please contact Lanie Cohen, Keshet Community Mobilization Manager, at [email protected] or Rose Kantorczyk, SOJOURN Communications Associate, at [email protected].

Fill out this form for your organization to join the Thrive Coalition.

Together, we will ensure that Jewish communities show up in the fight for dignity and rights!

Coalition Members

The Thrive Coalition is a partnership between Keshet and SOJOURN. The Coalition is open to new member groups on an ongoing basis.

A Wider Bridge

Academy for Jewish Religion

Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation

ADL (Anti-Defamation League)

ADL Arizona Region

ADL Austin Region

ADL Central Pacific Region

ADL Cleveland Region

ADL Connecticut Region

ADL Heartland Region

ADL Florida

ADL Los Angeles Region

ADL Michigan Region

ADL Mountain States Region

ADL Nevada Region

ADL New England

ADL New York/New Jersey

ADL Orange County/Long Beach

ADL Pacific Northwest Region

ADL Philadelphia Region

ADL San Diego

ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties

ADL South Central Region

ADL Southeast

ADL Southwest

ADL Texoma Region

ADL Washington, DC

ALEPH Ordination Program

Alma Surrogacy LLC

American Jewish Committee (AJC)

American Jewish University

Ansche Chesed (New York, NY)

Anshe Emet Synagogue

APS

Ariel Univeristy

Asheville Jewish Community Center

Avodah

BBYO

Be’chol Lashon

Ben Yehuda Press, LLC

Bend the Arc CA: Jewish Action

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Colorado Chapter

Bet Mishpachah (Washington, DC)

Beth Chayim Chadashim (Los Angeles, CA)

Beth Shalom (Overland Park, KS)

Beth Shalom Synagogue (Memphis, TN)
Beth Shir Shalom

B’nai Brith Jewish Community Camp

Bnai Keshet (Montclair, NJ)

Carolina Jews for Justice

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Charleston Jewish Federation

Coastal Roots Farm

Cohen Projects

Columbia Jewish Congregation (Columbia, MD)

Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Congregation Agudas Achim (Austin, TX)

Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel

Congregation B’nai Israel (Sacramento, CA)

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (New York, NY)

Congregation Bet Haverim (Atlanta, GA)

Congregation Beth David (Saratoga, CA)

Congregation Beth El (Voorhees, NJ)

Congregation Beth El of Rochester, NY

Congregation Beth Israel of the Berkshires (North Adams, MA)

Congregation Etz Chaim (Marietta, GA)

Congregation Gesher L Torah (Alpharetta, GA)

Congregation Har HaShem (Boulder, CO)

Congregation Kol Ami (Kansas City, MO)

Congregation Kol Emet (Yardley, PA)

Congregation Rodeph Sholom (New York, NY)

Congregation Sha’ar Zahav (San Francisco, CA)

Congregation Shaare Emeth (St. Louis, MO)

Congregation Shearith Israel (Atlanta, GA)

Congregation Tikkun v’Or / Ithaca Reform Temple

Cornell Hillel

The Den Collective

Elluminate

Eshel

Footsteps

Fort Tryon Jewish Center (New York, NY)

Foundation for Jewish Camp

Gayborhood

Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Habonim Dror North America

Havurat Shalom, Merrimack Valley

Hebrew College

Hebrew Educational Alliance

HIAS

Hillel at Drexel

Hillel at SUNY Plattsburgh

Hillel at Virginia Tech

Hillel International

Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebl (Baltimore, MD)

Houston Hillel

 IKAR (Los Angeles, CA)

Institute for Jewish Spirituality

Institute of Southern Jewish Life

Interfaith Alliance

Israel on Campus Coalition

JCC Association of North America

JCC of Baltimore

JCC of Greater Vancouver

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action

Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston

Jewish Community Action

Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund

Jewish Community Federation of Greater Ann Arbor

Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta

Jewish Community Relations Council of Colorado

Jewish Community Relations Council of Broward County

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington

Jewish Community Relations Council of New York

Jewish Community Relations Council of Tucson & Southern Arizona

Jewish Community Services

Jewish Community Services of South Florida

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

The Jewish Council of North Central Florida (JCNCF)

The Jewish Education Project

Jewish Emergent Network

Jewish Family & Childrens Service of Minneapolis

Jewish Family Services of Greensboro

Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee

Jewish Federation of Broward County

The Jewish Federation of Charleston

Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles

Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville

Jewish Federation of Greater Portland

Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester

Jewish Federation of Kansas City

Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County

Jewish Women International

Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York

Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta

Jewish Women’s Archive

Jewish Youth Climate Movement

Jewish Youth for Community Action

Jews for a Secular Democracy

Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)

jHUB

jGirls+ Magazine

The JOC Mishpacha Project

JPride (and The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore)

JQ International

JQY

JT Connect: Jewish Teen Learning Connection

JTEEN

JTS Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice

Judaism Your Way

Kane Street Synagogue (Brooklyn, NY)

Kehilla Community Synagogue (Piedmont, CA)

Keshet

Kohenet

Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute

Kol Rinah

Konar Center for Tolerance & Jewish Studies at Nazareth College

Lab/Shul (New York, NY)

Lander-Grinspoon Academy

Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation

Macalester College Center for Religious and Spiritual Life

Makom B’Tuach

Makom Shelanu Congregation (Fort Worth, TX)

Malkhut: Progressive Jewish Spirituality in Queens (Jackson Heights, NY)

Marcus JCC of Atlanta

Mayport Jewish Association for LGBT

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

Memphis Jewish Community Center

Metamorph Mentorship

Milwaukee Jewish Federation

Mishkan Chicago

Mitsui Collective

Mount Zion Temple (St. Paul, MN)

Moving Traditions

National Council of Jewish Women

National Council of Jewish Women Atlanta Section

National Council of Jewish Women Austin Section

National Council of Jewish Women Greater Rochester Section

National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis Section

National LGBTQ Task Force

Nefesh (Los Angeles, CA)

Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies

New Paradigm Rabbinics

New York Jewish Agenda

Or Adam Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (Scottsdale, AZ)

Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation

Or Hamidbar (Palm Springs, CA)

ORT America

Peninsula Jewish Community Center (Foster City, CA)

Pride and Joy Foundation

QJews

Rabbinical Assembly

Realize Paradise (Honolulu, HI)

Reconstructing Judaism

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism – TX

Repair the World Atlanta

Repair the World National

Rochester’s Little Minyan (Rochester, MN)

SAJ-Judaism that Stands for All

Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School

Seattle Jewish Community School

Sha’ar Zahav (San Francisco, CA)

Shalom Austin

The Shalom Center

Shalom Orlando

Shearith Israel (Atlanta, GA)

Shir Tikvah Congregation (Minneapolis, MN)

The Shul of New York

Sinai Synagogue (South Bend, IN)

Sixth Circle Consulting

SketchPad

Society for Humanistic Judaism

SOJOURN

St. Paul Jewish Federation

SVARA

Taste of Olam Haba

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Tamid NYC: the Downtown Synagogue

Temple Adath Or (TAO) (Weston, FL)

Temple B’nai Abraham (Beverly, MA)

Temple B’rith Kodesh (Rochester, NY)

Temple Bat Yam of East Fort Lauderdale

Temple Beth Abraham Tzedek Committee (Nashua, NH)

Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael

Temple Beth David (Brighton, NY)

Temple Beth El of Boca Raton (FL)

Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim (Cranford, NJ)

Temple Beth Emeth (Ann Arbor, MI)

Temple Beth Hillel Beth El (Wynnewood, PA)

Temple Beth Zion (Brookline, MA)

Temple Emanu-El (Rochester, NY)

Temple Emanu-El (Sarasota, FL)

Temple Emanu-El (Westfield, NJ)

Temple Emanuel (Denver, CO)

Temple Emeth (Chestnut Hill, MA)

Temple Emunah (Maynard, MA)

Temple Hillel B’nai Torah (West Roxbury, MA)

Temple Isaiah

Temple Israel (Memphis, TN)

Temple Israel (Orlando, FL)

Temple Judea (Coral Gables, FL)

Temple Kol Emeth (Marietta, GA)

Temple Ohabei Shalom (Brookline, MA)

Temple Reyim (Newton, MA)

Temple Shir Tikva (Wayland, MA)

Temple Shir Tikvah (Winchester, MA)

Temple Sinai (New Orleans, LA)

Temple Sinai (Sandy Springs, GA)

Temple Sinai (Rochester, NY)

The Temple (Atlanta, GA)

Transgender Red Umbrella

Tribe 12

Tzedek Georgia

Tzedek Lab

UJF of Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien

Union for Reform Judaism

University of Arizona Hillel Foundation

Up in the Chair

UpStart (Oakland, CA)

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

USY

Vanderbilt Hillel

Washington Hebrew Congregation

Wendy and Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service

Wild Rose luxury travel

Women of Reform Judaism

WRJ Southwest District

The Workers Circle

Zioness Movement

We invite national and local Jewish organizations of all kinds to join Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth. If you are an individual looking to support this work, please encourage your synagogue, JCC, and other local or regional Jewish organizations to join Thrive. Email [email protected] for more information.

Join the Coalition and Fight for Our Youth

Resources

The Role of Jewish Community Spaces Amid Hostile Legislation for LGBTQ+ Youth
The Role of Jewish Community Spaces Amid Hostile Legislation for LGBTQ+ Youth

Check out this resource from Thrive: The National Jewish Coalition to Protect Trans and LGBQ+ Youth.

Thrive Chaplain Bill Sign-on Letter
Thrive Chaplain Bill Sign-on Letter

See the letter to elected officials that Keshet, SOJOURN, and dozens of Jewish organizations signed in order to address proposed legislation around public school chaplains.

National Chaplain Toolkit
National Chaplain Toolkit

A coalition of faith-based and civil-rights and civil-liberties organizations has developed this toolkit to assist folks in understanding and opposing school-chaplain bills that have been or might be introduced in their state legislatures.

Legislator Outreach Script
Legislator Outreach Script

Advocacy can be hard but we're here to help! Here's a script and a discussion guide to help you when reaching out to legislators.

Overcoming Challenges Anywhere: Understanding the Strategy of Extremist Anti-Trans Policy in Florida and Beyond
Overcoming Challenges Anywhere: Understanding the Strategy of Extremist Anti-Trans Policy in Florida and Beyond

Learn from Keshet's efforts, as part of an interfaith coalition, to defeat anti-trans legislative attacks in Florida.

Talking About Anti-Trans Legislation Through a Jewish Lens
Talking About Anti-Trans Legislation Through a Jewish Lens

Anti-LGBTQ+ opponents have been introducing legislation targeting trans youth and their access to gender-affirming health care, facilities, education, extracurriculars, and privacy. As Jews, we are called to take action.

7 Jewish Values for Taking Action
7 Jewish Values for Taking Action

Ground your advocacy in Jewish values and texts with this resource.