There was no opposition, although three conference attendees who said they were in favor of the resolution asked if preschools and religious schools would be affected.
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They call for synagogues, camps, youth groups, schools and other groups affiliated with the Reform movement to add gender-neutral facilities; review prayers, forms and policies for respectful language; and advocate for trans rights.
Now, according to a few Very Good Christian Sexytime Experts, like the 19 Scamsters & Counting Duggar family and Ted Cruz’s anti-Semitic dry-drunk dad, and also the majority of Houston’s voters on Tuesday, the problem with treating LGBT-Americans like they are people is that they will teach your kids how to do buttsex in the butt, molest your daughters in the bathroom, and undermine the sanctity of Josh Duggar sticking his cheating dick into porn stars, because JESUS SAID.
Transgender issues have never been more visible or politically controversial.
The Union for Reform Judaism will offer congregations around the country a pamphlet with guidelines on how to adopt the goals in the resolution.
The outcome of the Texas referendum “affirms the urgency of this resolution and how much work we have to do on a social level, on a public-policy level”, said Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
“It acknowledges what Reform congregations and institutions have always been known for a welcoming community of inclusion and learning”, said Rabbi Eger.
Other religious bodies, such as the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Assn. have approved resolutions affirming equality for transgender and non-gender-conforming people.
Reform Judaism congregations should advocate for the rights of transgender people.
The Reform Movement is the largest branch of Judaism in the United States-accounting for more than one-third of roughly six million American Jews-and it has always been at the forefront of societal progress. Orthodox Jews, the most strictly religious, account for about 10%, while Conservatives, theologically located between Orthodox and Reform, represent about 18%. Orthodox Judaism remains staunchly opposed to homosexuality and views transgenderism as anathema to the innate and eternal gender characteristics based on Old Testament mythology, going all the way back to the legend of Adam and Eve.
Reform Judaism has a long and proud history of working for the full inclusion of LGBT people in Jewish life and for their full civil rights.
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“This may be a new issue for a few congregations”, she said, “but many are already addressing it. Our congregations are motivated to be as welcoming and inclusive as we can”.
