Sojourn: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity

Happy third week of Pride month, SOJOURN community! One of our favorite things about q***r Judaism is finding the small, often-glossed-over references to gender & sexual diversity in our ancient texts and traditions. Here are just a few - what are some of your favorite q***r Torah tidbits?

Image descriptions: Image 1 has a green and orange gradient background, with a line drawing of two masculine figures embracing, and text that reads “Your love is wonderful to me. David to Jonathan, 2 Samuel 1:26." Image 2 has a pink and blue gradient background and a black silhouette of a person in a dress, with text that reads "Who would then transform me from a man to woman? Evan Bohan,
Kalonymus ben Kalonymus ben Meir, 1322.” Image 3 has a purple, pink, orange and yellow gradient background, with an image of two hands clasping each other and text that reads "Wherever you go, I will go. Ruth to Naomi, Ruth 1:16”.

Check out all this trans Jewish shabbat joy!

For the second year, the Thrive Coalition is encouraging Jewish communities across the country to host Trans Pride Shabbat on June 26-27! This initiative is a way for Jewish communities committed to trans rights to ground their advocacy in Jewish teaching and tradition, and gather to take action. Thrive's Trans Pride Shabbat Planning Guide includes promotional graphics, prayers and liturgy, sermon starters, and timely ideas for action and advocacy. Check it out at sojourngsd.org/resources and consider hosting a Trans Pride Shabbat gathering, whether at your congregation or as an individual!

Thanks so much to everyone who came to our Atlanta QueerHillah summer Shabbat picnic! It was lovely to spend a Saturday morning in the park hanging and noshing with friends ☀🧋

If you'd like to be kept in the loop about future QueerHillah events, visit sojourngsd.org/empower for more info!

SOJOURN is once again participating in Give OUT, the national LGBTQ+ giving initiative! Our Give OUT funds this year are designated to help us cover the costs of our June Pride events in Nashville, Tennessee. While Give OUT Day itself was on June 4, donations are open through June 30!

SOJOURN’s investment in Nashville is part of a larger commitment to strengthening LGBTQ+ Jewish life throughout the South. Through Pride engagement, relationship-building, and continued collaboration with local leaders and organizations, SOJOURN is helping lay the foundation for longer-term community support and connection.

Help SOJOURN continue building a stronger, more connected Southern LGBTQ+ Jewish community. Donate today at giveoutday.org/organization/Sojourngsd and help us reach our $4,000 Give OUT Day goal!

The SOJOURN community had twice as much Pride as usual in Georgia this weekend! We were thrilled to be at both Gwinnett Pride (Visibility Club) and Smyrna Pride on Saturday. Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by our tables to say hi, and to all the volunteers who made this double-duty Pride day possible! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🔯

Today, June 12, is the 10-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL. A decade ago, 49 people were killed when a gunman opened fire during Latin dance night at the popular gay club, creating one of the worst mass shootings in America and the deadliest attack on the LGBTQ+ community.

We wanted to share this prayer by Rabbi Annie Lewis written to express the grief, rage, and desire for healing following the Pulse shooting. May the memories of those lost be a blessing, and may the desire to end hate carry us forward.

Shabbat Shalom - may you spread a sukkah of peace over your communities this Shabbos.

Read the full prayer here: https://ritualwell.org/ritual/prayer-beloved-souls-pulse-nightclub/

Image description: A graphic with a photo of a candle and a Pride flag in the background. Text over the photo reads "Prayer for Beloved Souls of Pulse Nightclub, by Rabbi Annie Lewis via Ritualwell. Eicha. Eicha. Eicha. How? How? How? Weeping and lament and outrage Again and again and again. Ayeka? Ayeka? Ayeka? Where are you? Where are You, yes You, with a capital Y Where can we find Your sukkah of peace? For those who wish only to love And be loved, and be love."

It's , a series where we explore the intersections of Southern, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ history! For Pride month, we're highlighting photos of Pride celebrations across the South over the years.

In honor of today's 10-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub tragedy, we wanted to share this photo from the 1993 Orlando Pride Parade, accessed via the Florida LGBTQ Museum. Orlando's q***r community is long-lasting and resilient, and will not be erased.

No matter where you are in the South, we hope you're having a happy Pride!

Image description: A photo of a group of parents and children marching in the street on a sunny day in 90s-era clothes and smiling at the camera. The front-most banner they are carrying reads "Gay and Le***an Parents Coalition International, Central Florida Chapter. Share The Love, Share The Magic. Love Makes A Family." Further back, someone holds a sign that reads "Mom and Le***an are NOT Contradictory Terms."

SOJOURN is once again participating in Give OUT, the national LGBTQ+ giving initiative! Our Give OUT funds this year are designated to help us cover the costs of our June Pride events in Nashville, Tennessee. While Give OUT Day itself was on June 4, donations are open through June 30!

SOJOURN’s investment in Nashville is part of a larger commitment to strengthening LGBTQ+ Jewish life throughout the South. Through Pride engagement, relationship-building, and continued collaboration with local leaders and organizations, SOJOURN is helping lay the foundation for longer-term community support and connection.

Help SOJOURN continue building a stronger, more connected Southern LGBTQ+ Jewish community. Donate today at giveoutday.org/organization/Sojourngsd and help us reach our $4,000 Give OUT Day goal!

Pride Month is a time when many folks recommit to LGBTQ+ allyship! We wanted to share this excerpt from "Pride Shabbat Blessing From An Ally" by Sara Stock Mayo. May our ranks of allies continuously grow!

Blessed is allyship
Truly seeing someone just as they are
And how they’ve told you they want to be seen
Blessed is allowing ourselves to be led
Blessed is allowing ourselves to follow
Blessed is the ability to transform, to allow for movement and possibility
To create and re-create who and what feels most authentic today and tomorrow and into the future knowing that the possibilities are endless
Blessed are you Adonai, who made me in your image which knows no form
Blessed is limitlessness

Read the full blessing at https://ritualwell.org/ritual/pride-shabbat-blessing-ally/.

For the second year, the Thrive Coalition is encouraging Jewish communities across the country to host Trans Pride Shabbat on June 26-27! This initiative is a way for Jewish communities committed to trans rights to ground their advocacy in Jewish teaching and tradition, and gather to take action.

Thrive's Trans Pride Shabbat Planning Guide includes promotional graphics, prayers and liturgy, sermon starters, and timely ideas for action and advocacy. Check it out at sojourngsd.org/resources and consider hosting a Trans Pride Shabbat gathering, whether at your congregation or as an individual!