Learn how the Momentum Campaign is reconstructing Judaism → 

Home » News

Reconstructing Judaism and the RRA sign on with 92 other Jewish Organizations to oppose H.R. 734

Reconstructing Judaism and Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association logos

Reconstructing Judaism and The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association joins together with the Union for Reform Judaism, Keshet and 92 other Jewish organizations to oppose H.R. 734. Read the full letter below.

April 17th, 2023

Dear Representative,

On behalf of the 92 undersigned national, state, and local Jewish organizations, we write to express our opposition to H.R. 734. Driven by our Jewish values, we are committed to supporting laws that protect the civil rights and individual liberties of all people. Rather than protecting transgender children, this bill would do harm by banning transgender women and girls from participating in school sports teams consistent with their gender identity.

Jewish tradition teaches that all people are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image, and are worthy of dignity and respect. Judaism also specifically recognizes the diversity of gender identity. In fact, our Jewish legal texts mention at least six different genders. As organizations grounded in Jewish values and beliefs, we have an ethical and moral responsibility to fight for a society that ensures the humanity of all people. Every person is entitled to a life free from discrimination.

Two-thirds of Americans across the political spectrum oppose these anti-trans sports bans – including 69 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of Independents, and 66 percent of Republicans. Furthermore, 79 percent of all Americans and 85 percent of Jewish Americans support protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ people. It is clear that the U.S. population, across political spectrums and faith communities, does not support this kind of discriminatory legislation.

This bill perpetuates a false narrative that transgender athletes harm and threaten women’s sports. There is no evidence that transgender athletes have an advantage over cisgender athletes; every athlete is unique, and multiple factors contribute to athletic success. There are many real issues facing women’s sports teams, including disproportionate funding and resources compared to their male counterparts — transgender athletes are not one of them. It is for these reasons that many leading women’s and girls’ rights organizations also oppose H.R. 734. Transgender women are women and deserve to participate in sports teams that align with their gender identity.

Furthermore, anti-transgender policies such as this sports ban actively harm LGBTQ+ youth and detract from real issues facing LGBTQ+ youth. According to a survey conducted by the Trevor Project, 83 percent of trans and nonbinary youth have worried about being denied the ability to play sports due to anti-trans legislation. This bill would also jeopardize children’s mental health; the same survey found that over half of transgender youth seriously considered suicide and one in five trans and nonbinary youth attempted suicide in the past year. However, they also found that “LGBTQ youth who found their school to be LGBTQ-affirming reported lower rates of attempting suicide.” Trans and nonbinary youth need protections that will make schools and communities more inclusive and affirming, not threaten their health and dignity.

As Jewish organizations, we firmly believe that all people deserve the right to live as their complete selves, without fear and intimidation. We support transgender people’s civil rights because of our Jewish values, not in spite of them. For all these reasons, we urge you to vote no on H.R. 734.

Sincerely, 

Keshet
Union for Reform Judaism

 

National Organizations:

A Wider Bridge

ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal

Ameinu

American Conference of Cantors

Avodah

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action

Central Conference of American Rabbis

Clergylifeline.org

J Street

Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)

Jewish Labor Committee

Jewish Women International

Jews for a Secular Democracy

JQ International

JQY

Judaism Your Way

Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute

 

Moving Traditions

Men of Reform Judaism

National Council of Jewish Women

National Council of Jewish Women Greater Dallas Section

NFTY Reform Jewish Youth Movement

Rabbinical Assembly

Reconstructing Judaism

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Society for Humanistic Judaism

T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

The Shalom Center

The Workers Circle

The World Congress of LGBT Jews, Keshet Ga’avah

Women of Reform Judaism

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism

State and Local Organizations:

California

Beth Chayim Chadashim

Coastal Roots Farm

Congregation Am HaYam

Congregation Sha’ar Zahav

Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles

Nefesh LA

Or Hamidbar, Palm Springs

Sha’ar Zahav’s Trans and Nonbinary Committee

Temple B’nai Hayim

Colorado

Congregation Har HaShem

Congregation HEA

Hebrew Educational Alliance

Up In The Chair

Florida

Temple Adath Or

Temple Beth El of Boca Raton

Georgia

National Council of Jewish Women Atlanta Section

SOJOURN: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity

Tzedek Georgia

Illinois

Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

Mishkan Chicago

Massachusetts

Havurat Shalom

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action

Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston

TBA

TBZ Brookline

Temple B’nai Abraham

Temple Emanu-El of Haverhill

Temple Reyim – Areyvut (Social Justice)Committee

Temple Shir Tikva

 

 

Maryland

Columbia Jewish Congregation

JPride Baltimore

Michigan

Detroit Jews for Justice

Minnesota

Jewish Community Action

Missouri

Congregation Shaare Emeth

Gateway Community of Humanistic Judaism

Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School

North Carolina

Carolina Jews for Justice

Jewish Community Center of Asheville

Limitless Judaism

New Hampshire

Temple Israel-Portsmouth

New Jersey

Temple Beth-El of NJ

New York

Fort Tryon Jewish Center

Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester

Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)

Kane Street Synagogue

Lab/Shul

National Council of Jewish Women New York

New York Jewish Agenda

Pennsylvania

Tribe 12

Texas

Beth Torah

Congregation Emanu El

Makom Shelanu Congregation

Texas Jews for Justice

Virginia

Agudas Achim Congregation

The Reconstructionist Network