Gay Rights: An Unorthodox View

Last night, I was looking for inspiration for my next New Voices post, and it took all of 10 seconds to find it. Upon opening Internet Explorer, I was confronted with an article about the Republican candidate for Governor of New York, Carl Paladino.  Smack dab in the middle of the New York Times (online edition) was an account of his homophobic speech at a rabbinical college. A rabbinical college?! Auuuugh!  The dominant image on the screen was of three Orthodox Jewish men smiling and shaking hands with this politician. I felt sick to my stomach.

Because this is the setting for Paladino’s rant, I am scared that people will assume that all Jews believe that children are being “brainwashed” into accepting homosexuality. I’m concerned that Paladino’s positive reception will fuel anti-Semitic sentiments; especially during a time when we as a nation are quietly seeking out a scapegoat for our myriad of societal problems. I would really like not to be that scapegoat. I’m worried that the image of the Orthodox men thanking Paladino will give people the wrong impression about us. I don’t want people to think that all Jews are prejudiced and homophobic, when that is not the case. These Orthodox men only represent a very small minority of the U.S. Jewish community. Even my grandmother, who was raised in a traditional Jewish home and on traditional values embraces straight and gay people alike. When she was growing up, it was not okay to be gay; it was one of those things that people liked to sweep under the carpet and deny existed. But when her niece came out and told the family about her partner, my grandma sent them a beautiful letter congratulating them on finding each other. They come and visit her often.

My synagogue has always welcomed same-sex couples and my rabbis perform same-sex commitment ceremonies. Some of my family’s closest friends are gay, as are some of my new friends from school. Also, Israel is the only country in the Middle East where it is safe to be gay and out.

 Personally, I believe that being different is part of what makes us special. I grew up in a very economically and culturally diverse neighborhood. My childhood friends were Indian, Greek, Scandinavian, Sudanese, German, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Pakistani and Chinese, just to name a few. Some were gay, some were straight, and to us, it made no difference. Some were Christian, some Muslim, some Jewish, some, not quite sure. But that never had a negative impact on our friendship; if anything, it brought us closer. It is that sort of loving tolerance that I grew up around and surround myself with today. Diversity is what makes this world one worth living in. If I went into a bakery and all they had were bran muffins, I would never again seek caloric satisfaction there. If I went to Barnes and Noble and all they had were magazines, my heart would shatter. If I didn’t have that group of friends growing up, I doubt I’d be the person I am today. The world needs diversity, a beautiful variety, and it’s articles like this that make people forget the gift of being different.

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