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Religion
Q-NOTES • APRIL 24 . 2004
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Jewish leaders show support
for same-sex marriage
by Alice Leeds and
Rabbi Richard Hirsh
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Parents, Families
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
announced Mar. 31 that over 120 rabbis and
jcwish leaders from all over the country have
signed PFLAG’s Passover Petition for Marriage
Equality. During Passover, when Jewish fami
lies celebrate freedom from oppression, PFLAG
implored fair-minded citizens across the
nation to work for the freedom of gay and les
bian families from the oppressive homophobia
and inequality that mark their daily lives. This
effort, organized by PFLAG board member
Rabbi Emeritus David Horowitz, joined the
enduring message of Passover with the hope
of equality for gay and lesbian families.
PFLAG’s Passover statement read as
follows:
“Passover is the Jewish community’s cel
ebration of our liberation from slavery. Each
year we recall our exodus from bondage and
rejoice in our freedom from oppression. We
also recognize that we are not entirely free
until every human being is free, free from
tyranny, free from prejudice, free from dis
crimination and free to pursue the fullness of
life. There is now an attempt to amend the
Constitution of the United States of America
in such a way that it would preclude basic
civil rights from the gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender members of our communi
ty. We, all leaders in the Jewish community,
deplore such an attempt and instead urge
the president and members of Congress to
protect the freedom of all that we might all
celebrate our freedom together.”
Earlier in March the Reconstructionist
Rabbinical Association endorsed civil mar
riage for same-sex couples in Deerfield
Beach, Fla.
On Mar. 16, in a unanimous vote, the
rabbis attending the convention of the
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
(RRA) passed a resolution endorsing civil
marriage for same-sex couples. The RRA
opposes all efforts to bar the legal recogni
tion of marriage for gay men and lesbians.
The strongly worded resolution condemns
current discrimination that prevents gay men
and lesbians from receiving all of the benefits
of civil marriage, including health care cover
age and related decision-making, survivor
Rabbi Emerihjs David Horo'witz joined
with PFLAG and the Reconstructionist
Rabbinical Association in endorsing same-
sex marriage.
benefits, privileges under immigration and
naturalization law, and child custody rights.
The Reconstructionist movement of
Judaism has a 20-year history of advocating
the inclusion and equality of gay men and
lesbians in Jewish life, in 1984, the
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College became
the first Jewish seminary to endorse the ordi
nation of gay and lesbian rabbis. Since 1993,
Reconstructionist movement policy has sup
ported rabbis who work with and officiate at
weddings for same-sex couples.
Behind the passage of this resolution is
the conviction that the fight for social and
economic justice is a religious obligation.
In its resolution, the RRA protested the
attempts to present religious traditions in
general and Jewish tradition in particular
as uniformly opposed to equality for gay
men and lesbians. The resolution declared
that the RRA will become a signatory to the
Marriage Resolution of the Lambda Legal
Defense and Education Fund.
US. Nemwire and wire reports
infOlFor a list of congregations in the Corolinos area
visit the following websites:
Union for Reform Judoism
www.uohc.org
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
www.jrf.org
Charlotte Business Guild
Meeting Date:
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Program:
RoofLop ParLy with Singer Christy Snow
Holiday Inn, College and 7th St.
Social 5:30 pm - Dinner & Program 6:30 pm
To Reserve:
Cost $20
Call 704-565-5075 by 12:00 pm
Monday, May 17, 2004
charlottebusinessguild.com