tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194728124548928772024-03-13T09:25:01.776-07:00International Network for Transgenders with a Jewish BackgroundTransgender Networkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03234929660382884354noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1019472812454892877.post-67741710872068636322016-10-16T09:54:00.000-07:002020-05-15T13:12:40.514-07:00Surat-Shaan<br />
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">According to Surat-Shaan, a
transgender Jewish man, visibility is not enough anymore and never was enough
for some trans and gender-nonconforming people of faith.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">Transgender Day of
Visibility (TDOV) aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of trans
people around the globe, while fighting transphobia and cissexism.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">Many in the wider Jewish community will have heard of Transgender Day of Remembrance, but TDOV is very
different – it’s not a day for mourning, but one of empowerment and
celebration.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">This year’s day has the
theme and hashtag #MoreThanVisibility – with a call to use visibility as a
a vital tool for justice.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">But how does this theme
resonate with trans people of faith? Has been more visible helped trans Jews,
like me, in the UK and worldwide?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">In the past two years we
have certainly seen increased global coverage of trans issues in the mainstream
media, and celebrity coming out stories a la Caitlyn Jenner.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">Visibility has certainly has
had the effect that most people nowadays would have come across the word
transgender. It helps. But does it help everyone? And has this ‘mainstreaming’
made things better overall?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">Amazon’s Emmy Award-winning program Transparent – about a Jewish family coming to terms with their
father’s decision to transition – has perhaps allowed viewers to develop
a greater understanding of the transgender experience in a faith context.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">But, despite all of this,
many trans and gender-nonconforming Jews have experienced first-hand that
visibility is not enough. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">Personally, I am probably
one of the trans-Jews who is blessed enough to benefit from certain privileges.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">I am an out and proud
Progressive Jew, and international LGBTQI campaigner with my latest project
being Twilight People, the UK’s landmark multi-faith heritage project exploring
gender & faith beyond the binary, which is hosted by Liberal Judaism. My
family, friends, workplace and faith community are supportive.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">I don’t mind my picture and
story being out there – as long as I am portrayed in a respectful and authentic
way, of course. So far, I have been lucky and it’s been a positive journey for
me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">Yet, some participants in
Twilight People had to remain anonymous. Others did not take part at all,
fearing reprisal from their religious community and family. Not all branches of
Judaism, or indeed all faiths, are as welcoming as Liberal Judaism.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">A friend of mine, a British
trans woman who came out after a long struggle within her ultra-Orthodox
Charedi community, told me: “The government should demand that every school be
exposed to [trans issues]. I’ve had to spend countless hours explaining to
Charedi Jews that this [being trans] is not a choice, it’s real.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">“I have not seen my kids for
so long – the court system is too slow. I have received death threats and so
have my friends. These threats are made indirectly, so the police are not
interested in dealing with them as a result.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">“The law has to change. I
had to move away; I cannot move around my hometown freely anymore. I wouldn’t
feel safe.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">It really seems, that
visibility is not enough anymore and never was enough for some trans and gender
nonconforming people of faith.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">I believe we now need better
education around trans issues, improved legislation, especially when it comes
to deal with a hate crime. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">I am excited to be working
alongside groups like Stonewall and on projects such as Twilight People, and
hopefully beginning to change hearts and minds in the more conservative faith
communities.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "courier new"; line-height: 115%;">Surat-Shaan Knan works for Liberal Judaism
and runs the Twilight People project. He
is a member of the Stonewall Trans Advisory Group.Interview <a href="http://awiderbridge.org/out-and-proud-trans-jew/">http://awiderbridge.org/out-and-proud-trans-jew/</a></span></span></div>
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</span>Transgender Networkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03234929660382884354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1019472812454892877.post-36775966791514500802011-02-06T05:02:00.000-08:002011-02-06T05:16:58.929-08:00Rabbi Weiss, Rabbi Kleinbaum, IIene Sameth, message to LGBTQ Youth and their rabbis, leaders, and teachers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="CBST Strength Through Community Project"></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yr5ygpguw9o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Rabbi Weiss, Rabbi Kleinbaum, IIene Sameth created this message for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth in crisis for CBST's Strength Through Community project in response to the bullying, torture and suicides that have become widely publicized.<br />
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CBST is launching a sustained online video messaging project, building on the success of the "It Get's Better" project, aimed at providing not just the stories of individuals, but the power and support of our entire community, as a Jewish community, to those in crisis, and based on advice from suicide prevention experts<br />
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Strength Through Community is a project started by CBST to share the support of Jewish Communities with those who need it most.<br />
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<strong>CBST Youtube Page</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/CBSTEQUALITY">http://www.youtube.com/user/CBSTEQUALITY</a><br />
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<strong>CBST</strong><br />
<a href="http://cbst.org/">http://cbst.org/</a>Transgender Networkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03234929660382884354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1019472812454892877.post-62079008083747016492011-02-04T13:14:00.000-08:002011-02-06T04:59:08.647-08:00It Gets Better - Transgender Faith Leaders Summit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">November 5th and 6th, 2010, a group of more than 70 faith leaders gathered together at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. What was special about this group was that these faith leaders were all transgendered, or friends and advocates for the transgender community. It was a very special event and a lot was shared about faith, hope and how our faith communities could be more accepting of transgendered individuals. The event was called, "Transgender Religious Leaders Summit 2010." The speakers and panelists came from a variety of faith traditions. All spoke about the progress they have made, and are helping to make. It was inspiring to see so many connect and plan for the future. If you are a teenager or young person who is looking for hope, we recorded this video message for you! Most of us have been where you are now, but we got through it and so can you! Those you see in this video are standing up for you and with you to say we know it will get better. Your life can be full of meaning and purpose!<br />
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Don't give up it gets better!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Transgender Networkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03234929660382884354noreply@blogger.com