(Jewish Group) NC Pride Excludes Jews By Scheduling Event On Yom Kippur
THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP!
Like many in the Jewish community, I was deeply troubled to see that the Chicago Dyke March kicked out three women for carrying pride flags adorned with the Star of David. The star, a proud symbol of Judaism, reportedly made some marchers feel “unsafe.” One ejected marcher told the Chicagoist, “Being removed from this march because of my visible Jewish symbol actually makes me feel unsafe.” I will wonder aloud if marchers would ever be kicked out of a pride event for carrying pride flags that include a Christian cross or Islamic star and crescent.
At pride events across the country, Jewish organizations and congregations march with pride flags that include the Star of David to represent LGBTQ and Jewish pride. It should go without saying that Jews who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer deserve to be supported, valued and included in LGBTQ events.
In my home state of North Carolina, NC Pride chose to schedule their 33rd annual LGBT festival on September 30, 2017, which is Yom Kippur, the holiest day of Judaism. Carolina Jews for Justice responded to this grossly inappropriate scheduling choice with a statement which read in part, “No group of people, Jewish or otherwise, should have to choose between our LGBTQ identities and the other identities that are important to us and shape our lives.” Would NC Pride ever schedule the pride festival on another religious holiday, such as Easter, Christmas or Eid Al-Fitr?
As the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Durham-Chapel Hill, Jill Madsen, told me, “It is very upsetting that this was the date selected for this year. For the past few years the Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish community has had a large presence at the event – [We] hosted a booth and had a float in the parade. Last year alone we had over 100 people marching with us. We continue to encourage people to send letters [to NC Pride] as it is important they hear from the community. We are working with our community partners to host a separate Pride event in October connected to Sukkot, so there is still an opportunity for the Jewish community to join together and show our support.”
Read more: http://forward.com/opinion/376180/nc-pride-excludes-jews-by-scheduling-event-on-yom-kippur/
===========================================================================
And the hits keep coming. I used to live in NC and went to this festival many times. I hope they come to their senses, and if not, that they don't make the mistake the university I worked for did when they scheduled homecoming on Rosh Hashana. They wanted to "make up" to the Jews of campus (read, DONORS) by having a pig-pickin' on Yom Kippur. No, I am not even kidding. I was the sole Jew on staff and I put a stop to that bullshit. At first, I thought they were making a joke, when I realized they were serious, I got really pissed.
This is the reality of being a Jew now. We are a minority and we are still hated, but it isn't just the right-wing.
= new reply since forum marked as read
