[ANON POST] Reception of trans boy at a Reform synagogue

[kutsuwamushi]

What sort of response would a trans boy (who until now everyone thought was a girl) who was transitioning and starting to present as male get at a fairly large Reform synagogue in a major US city? Setting is modern day. There are several gay and lesbian couples in the congregation, and most people are OK with that, but obviously just because people

Comments

[spikesjojo]

I live in Tucson AZ now. Yeah, I am amazed at how different things are than when I went to Hebrew school (45 years ago). When the Torah is taken out and carried through the congregation the children go first. They shout and jump and make a very joyful noise. It is so much more relaxed and accepting.

When I was growing up I was a city kid in a suburban temple with an odd background (suffice it to say we were the only McCrossens in the congregation).- so I do understand what you mean. But the Reform congregations I have seen here are very open. They have outreach programs for intermarried couples, and for Jewish LGBT. I think they've finally realized that disapproval is a potent force in a very negative way. Since we have a much smaller Jewish population here, the Reform synagogues really want to bring people in rather than chase them out.

Since her book is set in modern days, I assume she wants more modern ways of handling things. BTW - the Conservatives started allowing openly gay and lesbian Rabbis six years ago, so I assume they too are changing but slower than Reform (as always). Yes, there will be raised eyebrows and some people disapproving but that's true in almost every setting - and for every person.

Thank you for the apology - lord knows I have been guilty of the same. I internet-ed on Ambien and that really was a disaster.