Don’t forget to drape a rainbow-colored sash over the Torah when you dance with it in synagogue on Sunday.
This Sunday, October 11th is not just Simchat Torah – it’s the 21st annual National Coming Out Day, an internationally-observed awareness day to support the coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (GLBTQ) issues. And there are many ways to celebrate Coming Out Day Jewishly in the Twin Cities, beyond having “the talk” with Bubbe and Zayde (or mom and dad for that matter).
Join the Twin Cities Jewish GLBTQ community and other faith leaders at OutFront Minnesota’s rally in support of full, legal marriage equality in Minnesota at the State House (room 125 at 1pm) on Thursday, October 8th, head to the film screening and discussion of “For the Bible Tells Me So” with St. Paul PFLAG at the St. Paul Jewish Community Center on Monday, October 19th, or connect with J-Pride, an organization for GLBTQ Jews and their allies in the Twin Cities and surrounding area. Jewish Educators and Youth Professionals interested in facilitating workshops on GLBTQ inclusion in the Twin Cities should also check out Keshet’s National Training Institute November in Los Angeles, CA.
Don’t miss shmoozing with the rest of the Twin Cities GLBTQ community on October 16th at Minnesota’s National Coming Out Day Luncheon, organized by Quorum, the Twin Cities GLBT and Allied Chamber of Commerce. And get riled up and organized around marriage equality at OutFront Minnesota’s event “Moving Marriage Equality Forward in Minnesota” on Saturday, October 10th with Mandy Carter, a self described “out, southern, black, lesbian, social justice activist.” OutFront has a list of other Twin Cities Coming Out Day events as well.
OutFront Executive Director Amy Johnson, a MOT herself, described the importance of “coming out” to Bubbe – and everyone else – this weekend. “We need to change hearts and minds, to debunk this issue. Everybody needs to come out. We’re asking people to do the hardest thing; to sit down with their families and talk about religion, sex and politics. This is Tikkun Olam. And it’s important to have faith leaders articulate why this is the right thing to do.”
If you want to get involved in OutFront’s campaign for marriage equality, but can’t attend Thursday or Saturday’s events, email their public policy director Monica Meyer at [email protected]. For a fabulously comprehensive list of national resources – from blogs, to shuls, to dating for GLBTQ Jews and their allies, check out Keshet’s list of their favorite GLBT/Jewish websites and resources.
(Photo: sgt fun)
