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Jewish GLBT Programming
Ideas
Programming for or about the Jewish GLBT community
is not much different than the programming you currently organize.
There are Jewish GLBT speakers, movies, rabbis, comedians and performers
you can bring to campus, and there is a great chance that you might
be able to find someone locally to come speak.
Speakers/Lecturers
There are a lot of great people you
can bring to campus who speak about Jewish GLBT issues. There are
also a lot of wonderful speakers who do not necessarily speak about
Jewish GLBT issues, but are both Jewish and gay, lesbian, bisexual
or transgender. There are hundreds of possible speakers. Here are
only a few examples of people that Hillels or GLBT groups recently
brought to campus: Warren Blumenfeld, Tony Kushner, Lesléa
Newman, Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Sandi DuBowski
For a list of Jewish GLBT people, check out the
Members of the Tribe listing on the GLBT Archives page
at http://www.usc.edu/isd/archives/oneigla/tb/People.A-D.html
Performance Artists and Comedians
There are also a lot of Jewish GLBT performance
artists and comedians, many who are also listed on the web site
above. To mention only a few, that have been brought to campuses,
these are: Suzy Berger, Lisa Geduldig, Dan Rothenberg, Julie Goldman,
Sandra Bernhard, Harvey Fierstein and Isle Of Klezbos/Metropolitan
Klezmer
Films
Several Jewish GLBT films that have
been shown on campuses are: Trembling
Before G-d, Torch Song Trilogy, Treyf and
Bent
Trembling Before G-d, a 2001 release, was directed by Sandi Simcha Dubowski. Orthodox and Hasidic Judaism stand firmly against homosexuality. Nonetheless, in this controversial documentary, Jewish queers talk about their struggles to be both Jewish and queer. In candid interviews, religiously devout gays and lesbians share their stories of double lives, undercover organizing, and fighting for their rights. Dubowski's work has literally spawned an international movement within Judiasm. (94 min.).
For a more complete listing of Jewish GLBT films, check out the LESBIAN/ GAY/QUEER JEWRY section of www.jewishfilm.com or the film and video section of the Jewish GLBT archives on line at http://www.usc.edu/isd/archives/oneigla/tb/
Plays
Some Hillels have Jewish theater groups
or work with theater groups on campus to put on Jewish plays. For
a listing of Jewish GLBT plays, check out the Plays section of the
Jewish GLBT archives on line at http://www.usc.edu/isd/archives/oneigla/tb/Plays.html
Yom Hashoah
There are a number of things you can do
in conjunction with Yom HaShoah. Many do not know that before the
Holocaust, Germany had one of the largest, most vibrant, and most
progressive GLBT communities in the world. This community was entirely
destroyed and most of the gay men and lesbians were killed during
the Holocaust. There are a number of books and films on the topic.
Often, campuses and Jewish communities bring in speakers, films,
such as Bent, or documentaries about the plight of gays and
lesbians in the Holocaust as part of their Yom HaShoah programming.
Other Jewish GLBT Programming Ideas
There are a lot of other programs you can
organize with the members of your community. Here are a few:
- Create a forum at your Hillel to talk about Jewish
gays and lesbians
- Organize a social gathering for the Jewish GLBT
students in your community
- Take a group of students to a nearby GLBT synagogue
- Hold a discussion about the Jewish view of sexuality
- Work with other communities of faith on campus
to organize an interfaith panel that will be supportive and empowering
- Organize a Jewish GLBT seder or service
- Invite a professor whose area of expertise is
about a Jewish GLBT person from history (i.e Gertrude Stein, Leonard
Bernstein, Magnus Hirschfeld, etc.) to speak on that person's
life and work
- Collaborate with your campus GLBT groups to have
programming during their annual Pride and Awareness Weeks.
Two things to consider when you organize Jewish GLBT programming:
First, consider organizing the event
with your campus GLBT student organization and GLBT student services
office. They probably have some great ideas of programs that you
can organize together. They also most likely know many of the Jewish
GLBT students on campus, and they can help you connect with these
students.
Second, if you are organizing a smaller event or an event specifically for the Jewish GLBT community, please consider holding your event in a more private place. If students currently do not feel comfortable being out at Hillel, and it is held in a visible place at Hillel (i.e the main living room, dining room, etc.), they may be more apprehensive about attending. If it is a large event that will draw a large audience, like a speaker or performance artist, this is less of a concern. (See also the Hillel Welcoming Checklist).
Developed by Debbie Bazarsky
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender Student Services Coordinator
Princeton University
Bazarsky@Princeton.edu
or (609) 258-1353
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