On a national scale, the news of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation establishing a gay and lesbian division can be considered revolutionary. Yet we in the Bay Area are used to being at the forefront of progressive politics, and our Jewish community is no exception.
On a local scale, this is the culmination of a years-long process. As the new division’s director Danny Givertz told the Jewish Bulletin, when he was introduced to the federation’s board — the majority of whom are straight — he felt a genuine sense of “We are so ready for this.”
We know that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jews often feel marginalized by the mainstream Jewish community. We also know that many are likely to stay away from synagogues, federations and other Jewish institutions because they feel like they don’t fit in.
While the temptation now may be to pat ourselves on the back, we must not stop here. Givertz has his work cut out; it will be up to him and his dedicated volunteers to bring word of the federation’s activities to those who are not involved in any way in the Jewish community.
And just as importantly, they must make sure to keep their colleagues at federations around the nation apprised of their successes — and their failures.
It is heartening to know that when gay and lesbian task force co-chair Maxine Epstein spoke to colleagues in New York and Boston to tell them of the new division, they were “thrilled with the idea — they want to follow suit.”
We can only hope that this will be yet another example of the Bay Area, specifically the federation, prodding Jews nationwide to become more welcoming to all.