O pinion
For LGBTQ+, Don’t Let Politics,
Religion Mix
BY AVITAL KESSLER-GODIN
CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
has always been a big part of
my life. I grew up in an obser-
vant, tight-knit and active
Conservative Jewish commu-
nity that has, for as long as I can
remember, been committed to
social justice and the belief that
everyone is equal.

Studies have shown that of
the different religious groups
in the United States, Jews have
some of the highest levels of
support for non-discrimina-
tion laws for LGBTQ+ people,
and that we must continue to
modernize our laws. We have
found a way to adapt and create
change for the betterment of
society and for the sake of each
individual. In 2006, the Conservative
movement produced two
contradictory opinions on
LGBTQ+ relationships and
roles in Jewish practices;
one that would allow rabbis
and cantor who are gay and
lesbian to be ordained and
accept commitment ceremo-
nies, and one that rejected gay
relationships. Ultimately, the
movement left it to individual
Conservative rabbis to choose
which opinion to adopt.

Now, gay marriage is widely
accepted in Conservative
communities. No one likes excuses,
especially when they come
from elected officials who have
an obligation to ensure that
everyone is treated equally
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM under the law.

There is no more time
to waste. Years ago was the
time to pass a bill such as the
Equality Act, which ensures
equal protection under the
law for all LGBTQ+ people in
all 50 states. Yet, in 2021, the
fate of the bill is in the hands
of an evenly split Senate
between Democrats and
Republicans. The Equality
Act would bar discrimina-
tion against LGBTQ+ people
in issues regarding housing,
loans, access to public accom-
modations and more at the
federal level. With majority
support in every state,
senators have an obligation
to their constituents to fairly
represent them and advocate
for their needs — including
Sen. Pat Toomey.

Seventy-oner percent of
white Catholics are in favor
of LGBTQ+ nondiscrimina-
tion protections, according
to a study done by the Public
Religion Research Institute,
which aligns with the overall
increase in support for
LGBTQ+ rights. Over the years
there has been an increasing
amount of support for LGBTQ
nondiscrimination protec-
tions, with at least 68% of the
Pennsylvania population in
support as well, but not enough
concrete change to reflect that.

This Congress has the power
to change that. After the House
voted in late February to pass
the legislation with bipartisan
support, 224 to 206, all eyes
are on the Senate to pass this
necessary legislation that will
ensure equality and a better
future for all. While the legis-
lative responsibilities fall onto
the Senate, the Jewish people
must continue to actively
advocate for and support
nondiscrimination protections
for all LGBTQ+ people. To be a
proponent of the Equality Act
and other nondiscrimination
legislation is at the root of
Jewish values.

When it feels as if I have
little to no control over the
outcome of legislative pieces,
I think back to the months
leading up to the 2020 presi-
dential election, and the
Senate special election in
Georgia, and all of the phone
calls that people made to get
people registered to vote, to
get people to take action. Call
your senators. Urge them to
end the filibuster so that the
Equality Act can be passed. If
enough people called Toomey
to express their support for
this crucial piece of legislation,
and implore him to join them,
his vote could be influenced.

The LGBTQ+ community
and its allies are counting on
Toomey to be an advocate for all
of the people of Pennsylvania.

This is his chance to make
a lasting difference in our
society, one that will benefit
millions of people across the
country for years to come.

This change will not
happen if we continue to let
our religious differences come
between us and a more just
future. I am not asking you
to completely change your
religious beliefs; I am asking
that you take the time to think
about your values guided
by your religion, to think
about how old those laws or
commandments are and if they
can be adapted to our modern
society, and to think about the
differences between religion,
politics and equal rights. Those
are three separate things and
should not be confused for
each other.

Supporting the Equality Act
aligns with my religious beliefs
and values that my family and
community fostered in me. I
hope it does for you, too. l
Avital Kessler-Godin is a resident
of Teaneck, New Jersey.

JEWISH EXPONENT
KVETCH ’N’ KVELL
Arkoosh Should Not Have Been Featured
REGARDING JESSE BERNSTEIN’S April 22 article, “Val
Arkoosh Joins Crowded Race for Senate Seat,” I am baffled as to
why the (well-written) article appeared in the Jewish Exponent.

Although I know and like Val, there is nothing in the
article, or even about Val herself (she is not Jewish), that makes
the article appropriate for the Jewish Exponent, a newspaper
directed to and about Jews, matters Jewish and the Southeastern
Pennsylvania and South Jersey Jewish community in particular.

If I want news believed to be generally of interest to residents
of Philadelphia and its suburban communities, I can read the
Inquirer or my local paper.

William R. Wanger | Gwynedd Valley
Editor’s Note: Mr. Wanger’s criticism is correct. It came to our atten-
tion recently that Dr. Arkoosh is not Jewish. We regret the error.

Candidates Must Stand Up to GOP
Since he defeated Arlen Specter in 2004, Sen. Pat Toomey has
misrepresented Pennsylvania and the Jewish community. While
Everett Stern (“Whistleblower Prepares for GOP Senate Run,”
April 1) benefits from the fact that the troglodytes in Harrisburg
reject him, his sympathy with the Republican Party should
preclude against our endorsement, despite his personal rejection
of Donald Trump.

We need to know if Stern would continue the phony reform
precedents that Toomey has set, and to know that there will be
policy differences between Toomey and a Sen. Stern. Toomey
fooled thousands with his nominal endorsement of “gun control”
— while reducing funds for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives’ national criminal and violent threat
database, which would make instant screening for gun purchases
possible. Toomey has also refused to endorse reintroduction of
an assault weapons ban.

Where would Stern stand? Would he support President
Joe Biden’s infrastructure reality check, or would he continue
his Republican colleagues’ support for potholes on Roosevelt
Boulevard? Will he continue Toomey’s support for district
gerrymandering throughout the commonwealth, and continue
to support Republican voter suppression programs nationwide
in the name of fraud protection, for whose evidence has never
been found?
Are there no Democrats running for Senate whom the
Exponent can find worth mentioning? l
Ben Burrows | Elkins Park
STATEMENT FROM THE PUBLISHER
We are a diverse community. The views expressed in the signed opinion
columns and letters to the editor published in the Jewish Exponent are those of
the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the officers and boards
of the Jewish Publishing Group, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
or the Jewish Exponent. Send letters to letters@jewishexponent.com or
fax to 215-569-3389. Letters should be a maximum of 200 words and may
be edited for clarity and brevity. Unsigned letters will not be published.

APRIL 29, 2021
15