International Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the courage, resilience, and contributions of transgender individuals worldwide. Observed annually on March 31, the day celebrates transgender identity and is a call to action against discrimination.
Jewish communities are embracing meaningful ways to support transgender rights and foster inclusive spaces. Below, you’ll find resources and actions to honor Transgender Day of Visibility through a Jewish lens.
Kavanah and blessing to begin the day for queerness
Rabbi Lily Solochek (they/them) has shared a Kavanah (intention) and blessing that they say as part of the morning liturgy that plays with Hebrew language and gender.
The birkhot hashakhar invite us to celebrate the miracles of everyday life. I begin my day in gratitude for my queerness, praising the Creator for making me exactly as I am. To honor my complex and vibrant gender identity, I weave together masculine and feminine Hebrew words for the self and the Divine:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ רוּח הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשַֽׂנִי בְּצָלְמוֹ כִּרְצוֹנָה
Blessed are You, Creator, Spirit of all Worlds, who created me in (his) image, according to (her) design.
Join the No Trans Visibility Without Community Safety Event on Monday
On March 31 at 7 p.m. EDT, Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Protect Trans and LGBQ+ Youth, Reconstructing Judaism, Keshet, SOJOURN, JFREJ, and the RAC are bringing together a powerful coalition of Jewish organizations and individuals to take sustained, tangible action for trans rights.
No Trans Visibility Without Community Safety
On Trans Day of Visibility:
March 31 at 7 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. CDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Register here
In this critical moment, our Jewish communities hold unique power to protect and advocate for our trans, nonbinary, and intersex communities. Join us as we hear directly from the community about what’s needed—and how we can all step up to ensure safety, dignity, and justice for trans people everywhere.
Check out these Evolve essays to delve more into Transgender Folks and their lives
Roan Boucher writes “Defending Trans Communities: Why American Jews Should Mobilize Against the Christian Right Agenda.” Be sure to subscribe to our Evolve Podcast to catch our episode in April with Roan on this topic!
Rabbi Elliot Kukla writes “From the School Yard to the Talmud: Trans People Exist and Are Not Going Away.”
Rabbi Sandra Lawson writes about “Transgender Rights.”
Looking for ways to make your community’s commitments to LGBTQ+ belonging concrete?
Check out this checklist created by the Thriving Communities team.
Immediate & Quick Actions
- Release a statement that your community affirms the rights and dignity of trans, nonbinary and LGBQ+ individuals and that your synagogue will continue to be a haven and a place of belonging.
- We created a Template Congregational Statement Affirming Trans Dignity to help.
- Post Reconstructing Judaism’s “All Are Welcome Here” and/or Keshet’s “Trans Jews Belong Here” signs in your building.
- Publicly reaffirm your community’s commitment to using the names and pronouns your LGBTQ+ community members use for themselves.
Short Term Actions
- Organize a congregational text study on the 2017 Reconstructionist Movement Resolution in Solidarity with and Affirming the Rights of Transgender, Non-Binary and Gender Non-Conforming People.
- Ensure access to gender-neutral bathrooms in your gathering spaces and publicize this in your community.
- Host a postcard writing party at your synagogue to your elected representatives to affirm your commitment to LGBTQ+ rights. Before you go, make some calls together as well.
- Study the anti-trans legislation tracker to better understand what’s happening in your state.
Long Term Actions
- Create or update policies (like anti-harassment, anti-bullying, and non-discrimination) that affirm the dignity and safety of all members.
- Join Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth to add your organization’s voice to critical federal and state advocacy.
- Create a fund or contribute to the rabbi’s discretionary fund to send LGBTQ+ youth in your community to queer-affirming programs, such as Keshet teen retreats, an all-gender Moving Traditions teen group and Camp Havaya.
