Transgender Inclusion Understanding the Challenges to Inclusion and

Transgender Inclusion: Understanding the Challenges to Inclusion and Equality NFTY Social Action Leaders Trip 2017 rac. org / @The. RAC

Activity Instructions • Lay your notecards out on the floor in front of you • Write the following things on your notecards: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Write down an adjective to describe your home Write down an item that you purchased with your own money that you cannot live without Write down the name of one person in your immediate family that you cannot live without Write down one word to describe your favorite memory from school Write down one word to describe your relationship with Judaism rac. org / @The. RAC

• • • Transgender Cisgender Gender Identity Gender Expression Preferred Gender Pronouns LGBTQ rac. org / @The. RAC

Timeline of Civil Rights • Civil Rights Act of 1964 ü Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion and country of national origin • Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 ü Prohibits workplace discrimination of those over the age of 40 • Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ü Prohibits discrimination of persons with disabilities rac. org / @The. RAC

Statewide Anti. Discrimination Laws • • States that prohibit discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity (20 states & D. C) States that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation only (2 states) States that prohibit discrimination against public employees (people who work for a government department or agency) based on sexual orientation and gender identity (7 states) States that prohibit discrimination against public employees based on sexual orientation only (5 states) http: //www. hrc. org/state_maps rac. org / @The. RAC

Jewish Values • “And God created man in God’s own image, in the image of God (b’tzelem Elohim), God created him; male and female, God created them” (Genesis 1: 27). • “The Mishna recognizes people of intermediate sex and gender hundreds of times. And goes on to say that they were not to be harmed; their lives were of equal value to any other person’s. . . This Jewish approach allows for genders between male and female. It opens space in society. And it protects those who live in the places in between” (Rabbi Reuben Zellman) • “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23: 9). rac. org / @The. RAC

What you can do: Equality Act (HR. 2282/S. 1006): • If your Member of Congress is a cosponsor of the Equality Act: Other Opportunities: • – Thank them. Members of Congress represent us, so it is our responsibility to tell them our views • If your Member of Congress isn’t a cosponsor of the Equality Act: – Encourage them to become a cosponsor. You are one of their constituents, and if you think having comprehensive legislative protections for LGBTQ individuals is important, you should tell them that! • • If you live in a state without protections for LGBTQ individuals – Write to your state senator or representative and express your concerns (Maybe you ask if your rabbi can send a letter on behalf of your whole synagogue) Talk to your rabbi, synagogue president or youth group advisor about bringing LGBTQ awareness programs to the community Start a Genders & Sexualities Alliance at your school Use language that is inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities Listen to the people who champion these identities and allow them to tell you what they need and how you can help rac. org / @The. RAC

Be Who You Needed When You Were Younger rac. org / @The. RAC

Questions? Feel free to reach out: Max Antman Eisendrath Legislative Assistant mantman@rac. org / @The. RAC