The Jewish Gay Network Fights for Its Own Life as Well as the Lives of Others

An organization I helped found and about which I care deeply is fighting for its life right now.  I won't bore you with all kinds of details.  Suffice it to say that the economy has taken a toll on the community's ability to support our work.  We are figuring out how to streamline our operations and continue to do good things for the Jewish LGBTQIA community here in Detroit.

That's what I want to talk about.  It's the local part.  We don't only affect the people in our local area.  What we do here can have effects we can only guess at.  When we helped two seniors at our local Jewish High School to start a GSA and then they went off to college, the experience, no doubt, had reverberations that affected people we don't know and probably never will.

When we go into a supplementary school to do diversity/inclusion training with the faculty and anti-bullying training with the students, our influence can also travel far, wide, and for a long time.

We could even serve as a model for a Jewish Gay Network of Iowa or Kansas or Florida or Belgium for that matter.  You never know!  Or a model for a Christian Gay Network or a Muslim Gay Network.

These are just a few examples.  I can think of so many more.  The point is that where you live should not matter.  Yes, in Judaism we are told to take care of those in our "neighborhood" first.  The problem is that those in our neighborhood are hurting financially.  They are hard-pressed to give.  That is why I am asking everyone, everywhere, to participate in our campaign to continue working in the Detroit Jewish LGBTQIA community for another year.

Please click HERE.  Watch the video I made to tell about who the Jewish Gay Network is and what it does.  Then pledge whatever you can afford, small or large, to help us on our way.  The Point campaign is one that ensures you will not be charged unless there is a critical mass of support for an idea or a group.  That is why I used the word "pledge."  Your credit card will not be charged unless we reach our goal of $9600 by December 31st.  WE STILL HAVE $4,111 TO GO!

Enough said.  You know this is important.  You know people who are LGBTQIA.  Maybe you are a member of this tribe.  Please share what you have with us.  You never know what or how much good you will do!

Priorities

This morning's snow needs
Shoveling. I drop my son
And do yoga first.

Dreading Winter

First thick, sticky snow
Fell last night and lined each twig
Needle, branch, and trunk


In spite of myself
I liked the suggestion, the
Decorative touch


White-arced, slick, black streets
I wish I'd snapped a picture
Before it melted