Transgender Jews Force Denominations to Change — Even Orthodox

[stephaniec]

Transgender Jews Force Denominations to Change — Even Orthodox

http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/337869/transgender-jews-force-denominations-to-change-even-orthodox/

forward/By Uriel Heilman April 6, 2016

"(JTA) — Here's a riddle: If a transgender Jew shows up at an Orthodox synagogue, on which side of the mechitzah barrier separating the sexes should the person be seated?

That's an easy one compared to more complex Jewish legal questions raised by people who don't identify as the gender suggested by their physical anatomy at birth.

Is a woman who transitioned to male required to put on tefillin daily? Can a man who becomes a woman marry under Orthodox law? What about someone whose gender identity doesn't fit binary categories? Can the circumcision requirement of conversion be waived if the convert is male but has no penis?"

[suzifrommd]

Great article. Thanks for posting this, Stephanie.

[stephaniec]

yes, the Jewish religion is trying

[KarlMars]

All the Jews I know are very liberal people, and in the GLBT community or else I wouldn't know them. My great friend Isaac has an aura of love and comfort around him. He always tells me at the support meetings that anytime I need him he'll be on facebook!