1,100+ Jewish Clergy Launch Global Campaign for Transgender Rights

1,100+ Jewish Clergy Launch Global Campaign for Transgender Rights

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and Keshet mobilize leaders from 48 states to affirm the "sacred humanity" of LGBTQ+ individuals

February 27, 2026 – The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) and Keshet have announced that more than 1,100 Jewish clergy have signed on to Jewish Clergy Support Trans Rights, a groundbreaking letter that brings together clergy, clergy students, and Jewish spiritual leaders to unequivocally affirm the dignity, belonging, and sacred humanity of transgender, intersex, and nonbinary people.

Clergy members from 48 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia have added their names to the letter, joined by international Jewish clergy from New Zealand, England, Germany, Canada, and South Africa. These clergy serve Jewish communities across denominations, called by their Jewish faith and tradition to speak out.

“As legislation that attacks and erases transgender people continues to proliferate across the U.S. including removing LGBTQ+ curriculum, limiting bathroom access, and implementing sports bans, this letter represents a powerful collective voice from Jewish clergy who refuse to remain silent in the face of attacks on our transgender siblings” said Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism .

The letter, which represents a commitment grounded in Jewish tradition and draws on ancient texts, values, and teachings, speaks to the Jewish community’s sacred obligation to fight for the Kavod Habriyot – the human dignity – of transgender kids.

Invoking a teaching from Jewish scholar Rashi that the first human was created with two sides and faces – one male and one female – these clergy leaders remind us that these are not modern concepts, but ancient teachings. By identifying transgender individuals as “sacred manifestations of the Divine image,” these leaders demand equal rights for all people both within Jewish life and under civil law.

The Reform Jewish Movement has been advocating for LGBTQ+ rights since 1965, when the Women of Reform Judaism called for the decriminalization of homosexuality. In 2015, the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and Central Conference of American Rabbis passed historic resolutions affirming the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people. Today, the RAC and URJ work to promote LGBTQ+ equality nationwide and in Reform Jewish communities takes many forms including:

• Advocacy campaigns supporting the Equality Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act and combatting state-level attacks on LGBTQ+ people
• Infinite Value: A Resource Manual for Promoting Transgender Belonging and Justice, which outlines operational and ritual resources to ensure our communities are safe and affirming for our transgender community members
• Communities of Belonging workshops to ensure that Reform Jewish congregations, camps and communities reflect the Movement’s values of diversity and honor the dignity of all people
• Resources like the URJ Equity Indicator, which allow Reform Jewish communities to track their work in becoming places of inclusion and belonging

The RAC and Keshet encourage all Jewish clergy to add their names to this historic letter and join in proclaiming that faith and LGBTQ+ belonging go hand in hand. To sign the letter or learn more, visit https://www.keshetonline.org/jewish-clergy-support-trans-rights/.