The course of true equality never has run smooth

This article, written by the mother of four grown sons, one of whom is gay, describes her reaction to the Conservative movement's stance on LGBT members and clergy. Although the article is five years old, I was surprised to find that reparative therapy, long since debunked (i.e. "pray away the gay") was even on the table. I was less surprised to find that, while LGBT folks could be ordained, they were not allowed to engage in sexual relations with members of the same sex. Though I'm not a parent, my reactions were very similar to those of the author.

As much as I like our large Reform synagogue for many reasons, it's still very white, middle- to upper-class, Ashkenazi and hetero-couples-with-kids oriented. There is absolutely the intention to be accepting of all people, but I've seen lesbian couples asked if they're sisters (or mother and daughter, when the age difference is nowhere near that wide), unsure reactions to transwomen and complete bafflement when discovering that someone is a transman.

I cannot presume to say how Judaism should be. I can say how I would prefer it to be, and that is with the recognition that diversity within our people is something to be not merely tolerated, but celebrated.

(I've been reading bits of things here and there about the ongoing struggles of Sephardic, Ethiopian and Mizrahi Jews, in Israel and elsewhere. I converted into the Ashkenazic tradition, and I wish the Introduction to Judaism class had included more information about other Jews. There's probably a whole 'nother series of posts I could write, but I need to learn a lot more first. I can, however, say that I believe that no group who excludes these and any other traditions, whether or not it's intentional, can call itself truly inclusive.)