Timeline of LGBT Jewish history: Difference between revisions

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Timeline of LGBT Jewish history: Attribution: content on Jewish Renewal, Reconstructionist Judaism, Reform and Conservative Judaism was copied from Homosexuality and Judaism on June 28, 2017. Please see the history of that page for attribution.)
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* c. 486 BCE - [[Darius I]] adopts the [[Holiness Code]] of [[Leviticus]] for [[Persian Jews]] of the [[Achaemenid Empire]], enacting the first state sanctioned death penalty for male same-sex intercourse.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=g7TOCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT668&lpg=PT668&dq=darius+i+homosexuality+holiness+code+of+leviticus+persia&source=bl&ots=rNck46pVcI&sig=OyvS3Xpaav4rajFRgCi0dRFkqRs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGqZiC7dXPAhVGSSYKHdzhAmMQ6AEIJDAB#v=onepage&q=darius%20i%20homosexuality%20holiness%20code%20of%20leviticus%20persia&f=false Encyclopedia of Homosexuality, Volume 2]</ref>
* 1972: [[Beth Chayim Chadashim]] was founded in 1972 as the world's first [[lesbian]] and [[gay]] synagogue recognized by the Reform Jewish community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcc-la.org/history/ |title=History &#124; Beth Chayim Chadashim |publisher=Bcc-la.org |date=2008-07-30 |accessdate=2013-08-17}}</ref>
* 1977 - The [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]] (CCAR), which is the [[Union for Reform Judaism]]'s principal body, adopted a resolution calling for legislation decriminalizing homosexual acts between consenting adults, and calling for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians.<ref name="ccarnet2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.ccarnet.org/rabbis-speak/resolutions/2000/same-gender-officiation/ |title=CCAR |publisher=Ccarnet.org |date= |accessdate=2015-03-16}}</ref> The resolution called on Reform Jewish organizations to develop programs to implement this stand.<ref name="ccarnet2000"/>
* 1980: [[Lionel Blue]] became the first British rabbi to come out as gay.<ref name="lionel">{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/2016/12/20/news-opinion/world/rabbi-lionel-blue-the-first-openly-gay-british-rabbi-dies-at-86 |title=Rabbi Lionel Blue, the first openly gay British rabbi, dies at 86 &#124; Jewish Telegraphic Agency |publisher=Jta.org |date=2016-12-20 |accessdate=2017-06-22}}</ref>
* 1984: [[Reconstructionist Judaism]] became the first Jewish denomination to allow openly gay and lesbian rabbis and cantors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history/Jewish_World_Today/Denominations/Reconstructionist.shtml |title=Reconstructionist Judaism Today |publisher=myjewishlearning.com |date=18 January 2002 |accessdate=19 April 2013}}</ref>
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* 1990: [[Reform Judaism]] decided to allow openly lesbian and gay rabbis and cantors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ritual/Prayer/Synagogue_and_Religious_Leaders/What_is_a_Rabbi/Demographic_Changes.shtml |title=The Changing Face of the Rabbinate |publisher=myjewishlearning.com |accessdate=19 April 2013}}</ref>
* 1990: The [[Union for Reform Judaism]] announced a national policy declaring lesbian and gay Jews to be full and equal members of the religious community. Its principal body, the [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]] (CCAR), officially endorsed a report of their committee on homosexuality and rabbis. They concluded that "all rabbis, regardless of sexual orientation, be accorded the opportunity to fulfill the sacred vocation that they have chosen" and that "all Jews are religiously equal regardless of their sexual orientation."
* 1993 - A Reconstructionist Jewish movement Commission issued: ''Homosexuality and Judaism: The Reconstructionist Position''.<ref>[http://www.jrf.org/rt/transformation.html "Becoming a "Kehillah Mekabelet": The Struggles of Transformation"] by Roberta Israeloff {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113210730/http://www.jrf.org/rt/transformation.html |date=November 13, 2007 }}</ref>
* 1995 - Rabbi [[Margaret Wenig]] (who is openly lesbian) had her essay "Truly Welcoming Lesbian and Gay Jews" published in ''The Jewish Condition: Essays on Contemporary Judaism Honoring Rabbi [[Alexander Schindler|Alexander M. Schindler]]''; it was the first published argument to the Jewish community on behalf of civil marriage for gay couples.<ref name="wenig">{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:fFLO9cY0WUUJ:huc.edu/news/docs/prlinks3/Wenig%2520PR.pdf+%22miriam+frank%22+%22margaret+wenig%22+%22mentally+ill%22+first&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi23nbt0sf9HxA42m72kp-VshCZh5JKMb3Hij-nLKXhlNPM6VasnnCORZOT3VL0e3mlKGD8ZONJvC6gk8GgLZy_ZEsA74UoazDW6WKzPULQp5hJfW7Bea6V6AqAubipRho2owD1&sig=AHIEtbR6VRH-CJYWipd-wwBi6ItCM-6UmA |title=Powered by Google Docs |publisher=Docs.google.com |date= |accessdate=2012-04-12}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/nyregion/01experience.html?_r=3&hpw | work=The New York Times | first=Ralph | last=Blumenthal | title=A Rabbi Whose God Is a Loving and Long-Suffering Mother | date=2009-09-01}}</ref>
* 1996 - The CCAR passed a resolution approving same-sex civil marriage. However, this same resolution made a distinction between civil marriages and religious marriages.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Soc.Culture.Jewish Newsgroups |title=Question 18.3.8: Reform's Position On...Homosexuality |url=http://mljewish.org/S.C.J/faq/18-03-08.html |accessdate=November 26, 2014}}</ref>
* 1999 - [[Steven Greenberg (rabbi)|Steven Greenberg]] publicly came out as gay in an article in the [[Israel]]i newspaper ''[[Maariv (newspaper)|Maariv]]''. As he has a [[semichah|rabbinic ordination]] from the [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] rabbinical seminary of Yeshiva University ([[RIETS]]), he is generally described as the first [[openly gay]] Orthodox Jewish rabbi.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/11/national/11bishop.html?scp=4&sq=Rabbi%20Steven%20Greenberg&st=cse| title=Bishop Says Conflict on Gays Distracts From Vital Issues| work=[[The New York Times]] | date=11 September 2004| accessdate=18 November 2011 | author=Goodstein, Laurie}}<br />{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,1425657,00.html | title=Judaism and the gay dilemma | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=26 February 2005 | accessdate=16 November 2011 | author=Rocker, Simon | location=London}}
{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/07/an-interview-with-rabbi-s_n_638679.html| title= An Interview With Rabbi Steven Greenberg: Orthodox And Gay | work=[[Huffington Post]]| date=7 July 2010| accessdate=16 November 2011 | author=Neroulias, Nicole}}<br />{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/07/an-interview-with-rabbi-s_n_638679.html
| title= Gay And Orthodox, According To Jon Marans | work=[[The Jewish Week]]| date=19 July 2011 | accessdate=16 November 2011 | author=Merwin, Ted}}</ref> However, some Orthodox Jews, including many rabbis, dispute his being an Orthodox rabbi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2011/12/05/100-orthodox-rabbis-issue-same-sex-marriage-declaration/ |title=100 Orthodox Rabbis Issue Same Sex Marriage Declaration |publisher=algemeiner.com |date=5 December 2011 |accessdate=19 April 2013}}</ref>
* 2000 - In March 2000 the CCAR issued a new resolution stating that "We do hereby resolve that the relationship of a Jewish, same gender couple is worthy of affirmation through appropriate Jewish ritual, and further resolve, that we recognize the diversity of opinions within our ranks on this issue. We support the decision of those who choose to officiate at rituals of union for same-sex couples, and we support the decision of those who do not."
* 2000 - [[Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion]] established the [[Institute for Judaism, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity]] to "educate HUC-JIR students on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues to help them challenge and eliminate homophobia and heterosexism; and to learn tools to be able to transform the communities they encounter into ones that are inclusive and welcoming of LGBT Jews."<ref name=ijso>{{cite web |title=Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation |url=http://ijso.huc.edu/}}</ref> It was the first institute of its kind in the Jewish world.<ref name=ijso/>
* 2002 - At the Reform seminary [[Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion]] in New York, the Reform rabbi [[Margaret Wenig]] (who is openly lesbian) organized the first school-wide seminar at any rabbinical school which addressed the psychological, legal, and religious issues affecting people who are intersex or [[transsexual]].<ref name="nytimes"/><ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=http://huc.edu/faculty/faculty/MargaretWenig.shtml |title=Rabbi Margaret Moers Wenig, D.D. |publisher=Hebrew Union College |accessdate=2013-07-05 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623080230/http://huc.edu/faculty/faculty/MargaretWenig.shtml |archivedate=23 June 2013 }}</ref>
* 2003 - [[Reuben Zellman]] became the first openly transgender person accepted to the [[Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion]], where he was ordained in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/14854/transgender-jews-now-out-of-closet-seeking-commun-/#ixzz25FOl5U4v |title=Transgender Jews Now Out of Closet, Seeking Communal Recognition – |publisher=Forward.com |accessdate=2013-10-05}}</ref><ref>[http://www.jewishmosaic.org/page/load_page/50 ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506220137/http://www.jewishmosaic.org/page/load_page/50 |date=6 May 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bethelberkeley.org/aboutus/rabbi-zellman |title=Rabbi Zellman |publisher=bethelberkeley.org |accessdate=2013-10-05}}</ref>
* 2003 - The [[Union for Reform Judaism]] retroactively applied its pro-rights policy on gays and lesbians to the bisexual and transgender communities, issuing a resolution titled, "Support for the Inclusion and Acceptance of the Transgender and Bisexual Communities".<ref>{{cite web|title=Support for the Inclusion and Acceptance of the Transgender and Bisexual Communities |url=http://urj.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=13462 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* 2003 - [[Women of Reform Judaism]] issued a statement describing their support for human and civil rights and the struggles of the bisexual and transgender communities, and saying, "Women of Reform Judaism accordingly: Calls for civil rights protections from all forms of discrimination against bisexual and transgender individuals; Urges that such legislation allows transgender individuals to be seen under the law as the gender by which they identify; and
Calls upon sisterhoods to hold informative programs about the transgender and bisexual communities."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrj.org/Advocacy/ResolutionsStatements/Resolutions2003/2003TransgenderandBisexualRights.aspx |accessdate=April 10, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516091332/http://www.wrj.org/Advocacy/ResolutionsStatements/Resolutions2003/2003TransgenderandBisexualRights.aspx |archivedate=May 16, 2013 }}</ref>
* 2003 - The [[Committee on Jewish Law and Standards]] approved a rabbinic ruling that concluded that [[sex reassignment surgery]] (SRS) is permissible as a treatment of [[gender dysphoria]], and that a transgender person's sex status under Jewish law is changed by SRS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishmosaic.org/page/file/17 |title=Status of Transsexuals |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721041507/http://www.jewishmosaic.org/page/file/17 |archivedate=21 July 2011 }}</ref>
* 2003 - The Reform rabbi [[Margaret Wenig]] (who is openly lesbian) organized the first school-wide seminar at the [[Reconstructionist Rabbinical College]] which addressed the psychological, legal, and religious issues affecting people who are intersex or [[transsexual]].<ref name="nytimes"/><ref name=autogenerated2 />
* 2004 - The [[Society for Humanistic Judaism]] issued a resolution supporting "the legal recognition of marriage and divorce between adults of the same sex," and affirming "the value of marriage between any two committed adults with the sense of obligations, responsibilities, and consequences thereof."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shj.org/MarriageEquality.htm |accessdate=November 19, 2013 |deadurl=yes|title= Society for Humanistic Judaism Supports Marriage Rights of Same-Sex Couples |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010054121/http://www.shj.org/MarriageEquality.htm |archivedate=October 10, 2013 }}</ref>
* 2004 - The [[Association of Humanistic Rabbis]] issued a pro-LGBT statement titled "In Support of Diverse Sexualities and Gender Identities."<ref name="humanisticrabbis.org">{{cite web |title=Sexualities & Identities |publisher=Association of Humanistic Rabbis |url=http://www.humanisticrabbis.org/sexualities-identities/ |accessdate=November 26, 2014}}</ref>
* 2005 - Eli Cohen became the first openly gay rabbi ordained by the Jewish Renewal Movement.
* 2006 - In Conservative Judaism, the [[Committee on Jewish Law and Standards]] (CJLS) of the [[Rabbinical Assembly]] makes the movement's decisions concerning [[Conservative Halakha|Jewish law]]. On December 6, 2006, The CJLS adopted three distinct [[Responsum|responsa]] reflecting very different approaches to homosexuality. One [[responsum]] substantially liberalized Conservative Judaism's approach including lifting most (but not all) classical prohibitions on homosexual conduct and permitted the blessing of homosexual unions and the ordination of openly gay/lesbian/bisexual clergy. Two others completely retained traditional prohibitions. Under the rules of the Conservative movement, the adoption of multiple opinions permits individual Conservative rabbis, congregations, and rabbinical schools to select which opinion to accept, and hence to choose individually whether to maintain a traditional prohibition on homosexual conduct, or to permit openly gay/lesbian/bisexual unions and clergy. The liberalizing responsum, adopted as a majority opinion by 13 of 25 votes, was authored by Rabbis [[Elliot N. Dorff]], Daniel Nevins, and Avram Reisner. It lifted most restrictions on homosexual conduct and opened the way to the ordination of openly gay/lesbian/bisexual rabbis and cantors and acceptance of homosexual unions, but stopped short of religiously recognizing same-sex marriage. The responsum invoked the [[Talmud|Talmudic principle]] of ''[[Kavod HaBriyot|kavod habriyot]]'', which the authors translated as "human dignity", as authority for this approach. The responsum maintained a prohibition on male-male anal sex, which it described as the sole Biblically prohibited homosexual act. This act remains a ''yehareg ve'al ya'avor'' ("[[Self-sacrifice under Jewish Law|die rather than transgress]]" offense) under the decision.<ref>[http://www.rabbinevins.org/HHH%20Dorff%20Nevins%20Reisner%20Final2.pdf Elliott N. Dorff, Daniel Nevins, and Avram Reisner. ''Homosexuality, Human Dignity, and Halakha.'' Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, Rabbinical Assembly, December 6, 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413220855/http://www.rabbinevins.org/HHH%20Dorff%20Nevins%20Reisner%20Final2.pdf |date=April 13, 2008 }}</ref> The [[Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies]] of the [[University of Judaism]] (now the [[American Jewish University]]) in Los Angeles had previously stated that it would immediately begin admitting gay/lesbian/bisexual students as soon as the law committee passed a policy that sanctioned such ordination.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rebecca Spence |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/conservative-panel-votes-to-permit-gay-rabbis/ |title=Conservative Panel Votes To Permit Gay Rabbis |newspaper=The Jewish Daily Forward |date=December 8, 2006 |accessdate=November 26, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208205536/http://www.forward.com/articles/conservative-panel-votes-to-permit-gay-rabbis/ |archivedate=December 8, 2006 |df= }}</ref>
* 2006 - [[Chaya Gusfield]] and [[Rabbi Lori Klein]], both ordained in America, became the first openly lesbian rabbis ordained by the Jewish Renewal movement.
* 2006 - Conservative Judaism decided to allow openly lesbian rabbis and cantors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewcy.com/religion-and-beliefs/conservative_judaism_puts_its_money_where_its_mouth_is |title=Conservative Judaism Walks the Walk |publisher=Jewcy.com |accessdate=2014-05-18}}</ref>
* 2006 - [[Elliot Kukla]], who came out as transgender six months before his ordination in 2006, was the first openly transgender person to be ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/14854/transgender-jews-now-out-of-closet-seeking-commun-/ |title=Transgender Jews Now Out of Closet, Seeking Communal Recognition – |publisher=Forward.com |accessdate=2013-10-05}}</ref>
* 2007 - On March 26, 2007, the [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America]] in New York began accepting openly gay/lesbian/bisexual candidates for admission for their Rabbinical program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jtsa.edu/Conservative_Judaism/The_Halakhic_Status_of_Homosexual_Behavior/Eisen_Letter_-_Ordination.xml |title=Chancellor-elect Eisen's Letter to the Community |publisher=The Jewish Theological Seminary |date=March 26, 2007 |accessdate=November 26, 2014}}</ref>
* 2007 - [[Jalda Rebling]], a German woman born in the Netherlands and ordained in America, became the first openly lesbian cantor ordained by the Jewish Renewal movement.
* 2007 - Rabbi [[Toba Spitzer]] became the first openly lesbian or gay person to head a [[rabbi|rabbinical assembly]] when she was elected president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Assembly at the group's annual convention, held in [[Scottsdale, Arizona]].<ref name=radin>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/03/first_openly_ga.html |title=First openly gay rabbi elected leader |first=Charles A. |last=Radin |publisher=The Boston Globe
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* 2007 - [[Joy Ladin]] became the first openly transgender professor at an Orthodox institution (Stern College for Women of [[Yeshiva University]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Through-Door-Life-Journey-Autobiog/dp/0299287300/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346529351&sr=1-1&keywords=through+the+door+of+life+a+jewish+journey+between+genders |title=Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey between Genders (Living Out: Gay and Lesbian Autobiog): Joy Ladin: 9780299287306: Amazon.com: Books |publisher=Amazon.com |date=2012-03-15 |accessdate=2013-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sjjcc.org/arts/performance-guest-speakers/ |title=Performance & Guest Speakers |publisher=Sjjcc.org |accessdate=2013-10-05 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314060544/http://www.sjjcc.org/arts/performance-guest-speakers/ |archivedate=14 March 2013 }}</ref>
* 2008 - In an open letter distributed to Orthodox community leaders,<ref>{{cite news |author=Kobi Nahshoni | url = http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3504952,00.html | title = Religious homosexuals seek acceptance | date=February 10, 2008 | publisher=[[Ynetnews]] |accessdate=November 26, 2014}}</ref> the [[Hod (organization)|Hod]] organization (an independent Israel-based organization run by and intended for Orthodox Jewish homosexuals) appealed to the Orthodox community to recognize them as part of the religious society. This was sent to over 100 rabbis in 2008, and eventually was known as the "Document of Principles". By 2013, 163 Orthodox rabbis from Israel and abroad had signed this statement, among them: rabbi [[Yuval Cherlow]], rabbi [[Binyamin Lau]], rabbi Haim Navon, rabbi [[Daniel Sperber]], rabbi [[Eliezer Melamed]], rabbi [[Shai Piron]] and rabbi [[Yehuda Gilad (politician)|Yehuda Gilad]].
* 2009 - ''Siddur Sha'ar Zahav'', the first complete prayer book to address the lives and needs of LGBTQ as well as straight Jews, was published. Publisher: J Levine Judaica & Sha'ar Zahav (2009); {{ISBN|0-982197-91-8}}; {{ISBN|978-0982197-91-2}}. Sha'ar Zahav is a progressive Reform synagogue in San Francisco.
* 2010 - The [[Society for Humanistic Judaism]] pledged to speak out against homophobic bullying.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shj.org/Homophobic%20Bullying.html |accessdate=July 11, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725123301/http://www.shj.org/Homophobic%20Bullying.html |archivedate=July 25, 2013 }}</ref>
* 2011 - [[Rachel Isaacs]] became the first openly lesbian rabbi ordained by the Conservative movement's [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America|Jewish Theological Seminary]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/138141/ |title=JTS Ordains Its First Openly Gay Rabbi – The Sisterhood – Forward.com |publisher=Blogs.forward.com |date=2011-05-25 |accessdate=2013-10-05}}</ref>
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* 2012 - In November 2012, the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]] filed a lawsuit against [[Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality|JONAH]] (a Jewish [[ex-gay]] organization), Goldberg, and Downing on behalf of Unger, Levin, two other participants, and two of the participants' mothers for fraudulent practices which are illegal under New Jersey's consumer protection laws.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Health/nj-lawsuit-alleges-jonah-gay-conversion-therapy-fraud/story?id=17814302&singlePage=true#.UMVAeIPAeSo |title=N.J. Lawsuit Alleges JONAH Gay Conversion Therapy Fraud - ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |date=2012-11-27 |accessdate=2014-06-03}}</ref> The Southern Poverty Law Center noted that the lawsuit was "groundbreaking" insofar as it was the first time a conversion therapy provider had been sued for fraudulent business practices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/splc-files-groundbreaking-lawsuit-accusing-conversion-therapy-organization-of-frau|title=SPLC files groundbreaking lawsuit accusing conversion therapy organization of fraud|publisher=|accessdate=29 November 2014}}</ref>
* 2013 - Rabbi [[Deborah Waxman]] was elected as the President of the [[Reconstructionist Rabbinical College]].<ref name="thejewishweek.com">{{cite web|author=JTA |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/national-news/reconstructionists-pick-first-woman-lesbian-denominational-leader |title=Reconstructionists Pick First Woman, Lesbian As Denominational Leader |publisher=The Jewish Week |accessdate=2014-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/articles/185252/trailblazing-reconstructionist-deborah-waxman-reli/?p=all |title=Trailblazing Reconstructionist Deborah Waxman Relishes Challenges of Judaism – |publisher=Forward.com |accessdate=2014-01-18}}</ref> As the President, she is believed to be the first woman and first lesbian to lead a Jewish congregational union, and the first female rabbi and first lesbian to lead a Jewish seminary; RRC is both a congregational union and a seminary.<ref name="thejewishweek.com"/><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.rrc.edu/sites/default/files/ORPHAN_PDFs/RRC_WaxmanPresidentElect-ForPress3.pdf?hero=1615 |title=RRC Announces New President Elect |accessdate=2014-04-05}}</ref>
* 2013 - The [[Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association]] elected as president Rabbi [[Jason Klein]], the first openly gay man chosen to head a national [[rabbi|rabbinical association]] of one of the major Jewish denominations in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gay man chosen to lead U.S. Reconstructionist rabbis |date=March 12, 2013 |agency=The Forward |newspaper=[[Haaretz]] |url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/gay-man-chosen-to-lead-u-s-reconstructionist-rabbis-1.508883 |accessdate=November 2014}}</ref>
* 2013 - Mark C. Goldman became the first openly gay president of the American Conference of Cantors, a Reform Jewish organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://accantors.org/acc/node/1074 |title=Reform Cantors Conference Installs First Openly Gay President |publisher= |accessdate=14 March 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402224540/http://accantors.org/acc/node/1074 |archivedate=2 April 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref>
* 2014 - Britain's first Jewish lesbian marriage was held for Nicola Pettit, who was Jewish, and her girlfriend Tania Ward, in a ceremony which contained Jewish elements.<ref name="ibtimes.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/meet-nicola-pettit-tania-ward-britains-first-gay-jewish-marriage-partners-1443287|title=Meet Nicola Pettit and Tania Ward, Britain's First Gay Jewish Marriage Partners|work=International Business Times UK|accessdate=14 March 2015}}</ref> They married in Brighton Town Hall, in southern England, and then had their union blessed by a rabbi.<ref name="ibtimes.co.uk"/> It was the first same-sex wedding involving a Jewish person since the same-sex marriage Act came into force.<ref name="ibtimes.co.uk"/>
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* 2014 - The memorial honoring [[LGBT]] people persecuted by the Nazis in Tel Aviv, the first specific recognition in Israel for non-Jewish victims of the Holocaust, was unveiled in 2014.<ref name="chron.com">[http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Israel-city-unveils-gay-Holocaust-victims-memorial-5130867.php ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111021317/http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Israel-city-unveils-gay-Holocaust-victims-memorial-5130867.php |date=11 January 2014 }}</ref>
* 2014 - Mikie Goldstein became the first openly gay man to be ordained as a Conservative Jewish Rabbi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/conservative-judaism-ordains-first-openly-gay-rabbi-lead-synagogue-israel080914|title=Conservative Judaism ordains first openly gay rabbi to lead synagogue in Israel|work=Gay Star News|accessdate=6 October 2014}}</ref> Later that year he became the Israeli Conservative movement's first openly gay congregational rabbi with his installation as spiritual leader of its synagogue in Rehovot (Congregation Adat Shalom-Emanuel).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.614621|title=Israel's Conservative movement gets its first openly gay pulpit rabbi|date=7 September 2014|work=Haaretz.com|accessdate=6 October 2014}}</ref>
* 2014 - The CCAR joined a lawsuit challenging North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage, which was America's first faith-based challenge to same-sex marriage bans.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mark Price |date=June 3, 2014 |title=Rabbis group joins N.C. same-sex marriage suit |newspaper=Charlotte Observer |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/06/03/4952335/rabbis-group-joins-nc-same-sex.html |accessdate=November 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Michael O'Loughlin |date=June 6, 2014 |title=Rabbis Join Marriage Equality Fight |url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2014/06/06/rabbis-join-marriage-equality-fight |publisher=Advocate |accessdate=November 26, 2014}}f</ref>
* 2015 - Rabbi [[Denise Eger]] became the first openly gay president of the [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]], which is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in North America.<ref name="Cutler">Tess Cutler, [http://www.jewishjournal.com/religion/article/rabbi_denise_eger_seeks_to_open_doors_wider_to_all_jews "Rabbi Denise Eger seeks to open doors wider to all Jews"], ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'', 4 March 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/2015/03/16/news-opinion/united-states/reform-rabbis-install-first-openly-gay-president-denise-eger |title=Reform rabbis install first openly gay president, Denise Eger &#124; Jewish Telegraphic Agency |publisher=Jta.org |accessdate=2015-03-16}}</ref>
* 2015 - [[Abby Stein]] came out as transgender and thus became the first openly transgender woman (and the first woman) to have been ordained by an ultra-Orthodox institution, having received her rabbinical degree in 2011 from Yeshiva Viznitz in South Fallsburg, N.Y. However, this was before she was openly transgender, and she is no longer working as a rabbi as of 2016.<ref>{{cite web|author=Amy Sara Clark |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/special-sections/36-under-36/abby-stein-24 |title=36 Under 36 - Abby Stein |publisher=The Jewish Week |date=May 24, 2016 |accessdate=November 12, 2016}}</ref> She is also the first openly transgender woman raised in a [[Hasidic]] community, and is a direct descendant of Hasidic Judaism's founder the [[Baal Shem Tov]].<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/news/1.687051 "Descendant of Hasidic Judaism Founder Comes Out as Transgender"], [[Jewish Telegraphic Agency|JTA]], November 19, 2015</ref>
* 2015 - The [[High Holy Days]] Reform Jewish prayer book [[Mishkan HaNefesh]] was released; it was intended as a companion to [[Mishkan T'filah]].<ref name="jweekly1">{{cite web|url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/74278/gates-of-repentance-replacement-advances-reform-trends/ |title=‘Gates of Repentance’ replacement advances Reform trends &#124; j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California |publisher=Jweekly.com |date=2015-03-26 |accessdate=2015-04-14}}</ref> Mishkan HaNefesh can be translated as "sanctuary of the soul."<ref name="jweekly1"/> It replaced a line from the Reform movement’s earlier prayerbook, "Gates of Repentance," that mentioned the joy of a bride and groom specifically, with the line "rejoicing with couples under the chuppah [wedding canopy]", and added a third, non-gendered option to the way worshippers are called to the Torah, offering “mibeit,” Hebrew for “from the house of,” in addition to the traditional “son of” or “daughter of.”<ref name="jweekly1"/>
* 2016 - The first Jewish same-sex wedding ceremony in Latin America was celebrated in Buenos Aires; the wedding was for Victoria Escobar and Romina Charur and was officiated by Rabbi Karina Finkielstein.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/338304/argentina-lesbians-tie-knot-in-first-for-latin-america-jews/#ixzz45iihbFOD|title=Argentina Lesbians Tie Knot in First for Latin America Jews|author=JTA|date=11 April 2016|work=The Forward}}</ref>
* 2016 - An edict signed by dozens of Israeli Orthodox rabbis and published in 2016 by the Israeli Modern Orthodox rabbinic group Beit Hillel, a group which promotes inclusiveness in Orthodox Judaism, stated in part, "according to the Torah and halacha, the [same-sex sexual] acts are forbidden but not the proclivities, and therefore people with same-sex tendencies, men and women, have no invalidation in halacha or tradition. They are obligated by the commandments of the Torah, they can fulfill a [ritual] obligation on behalf of the public and carry out all of the community functions just like any member.”<ref name="The Times of Israel">{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/dozens-of-orthodox-rabbis-call-for-accepting-gay-congregants/|title=Dozens of Orthodox rabbis call for accepting gay congregants|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> It also stated in part, "just as it [is] inconceivable to mock someone for being physically, behaviorally, or mentally different, so too those with same-sex tendencies should not be mocked. On the contrary, those around them — family and community — should show special feeling for them, and apply to them the Torah commandment of ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself’ and to be diligent in avoiding the prohibition of insulting another."<ref name="The Times of Israel"/>