Title: Discussion Post Number 12 – Being Jewish and Transgender
Course: REL 201 RTZ > Section: Week 13 - Judaism

Discussion Post Number 12

Title:  Being Jewish and Transgender

Points: 25 points (see Discussion Rubric for details: (Discussion Rubric.docx)

Worldwide gay, lesbian, and transgender rights have been focal points in government, court, and religious worlds.  For religions, there are many sides of contention of acceptance, inclusion and embracing people who are gay and lesbian.  Outside of that world is the T, transgender, of the LBGT community.  Transgender people do not fit nicely into heterosexual or non-heterosexual groups.  After all being transgendered reflects not a sexual attraction but a perspective of gender identity.  Many churches are grappling with what it means to be transgendered and how do transgender people fit into the religious world.  Judaism is not an exception to this quandary. If you are unfamiliar with what the word transgender mean please take a look at the Transgender FAQ by GLAAD.

For this discussion read the following two articles; one that is written by the Jewish Reconstructionist Communities and other is about an Orthodox Jewish transgendered Child.

Discussion questions:  How does the Torah respond to transgendered people?  Is this response modern day interpretations by rabbis? Or, are the interpretations of transgendered people clearly reflected in the texts of Judaism?  Do you think that the acceptance or persecution of transgendered people in Judaism is appropriate and reflective of the teachings of God?