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Fast Forward ‘Wicked’ Composer Nixes North Carolina Shows Over Anti-LGBT Law
Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz has barred North Carolina theaters from producing his shows, in protest of a new state law that entrenches discrimination against LGBT people. The Jewish composer, who worked on such musical hits as “Wicked” and “Pippin,” called the law “reprehensible and discriminatory,” in a letter obtained by . “I feel that it…
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Fast Forward Congregation Beit Simchat Torah Opens New Sanctuary
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah officially opened its modern new sanctuary on Manhattan’s West Side on April 3. Jubilant congregants blew a shofar and Mayor Bill de Blasio and Sen. Chuck Schumer spoke at the dedication of the new space on West 30th Street. CBST bills itself as a home for progressive Jews and is considered…
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Opinion In Response to North Carolina’s Law, a Jewish Case for Intersectionality
North Carolina has once again made reactionary history, this time rolling back anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people by means of a complete fabrication: that transgender women are, in fact, male sexual predators. There is not a shred of data to support this conclusion — none. On the contrary, by forcing transgender men to shower, urinate…
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Fast Forward Transgender Activist Janet Mock Cancels Talk at Brown U. Hillel After ‘Pinkwashing’ Campaign
A prominent African-American transgender activist canceled her scheduled appearance at the Brown University Hillel after facing criticism for allegedly supporting the Jewish group’s “pinkwashing” of Israeli treatment of the Palestinians. Janet Mock announced Wednesday that she had cancelled her talk scheduled for March 21 at the Providence, Rhode Island Ivy League school, The Brown Daily…
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News Jewish Transgender Woman Named White House LGBT Liaison
President Obama has promoted the first openly transgender person to work in the West Wing to be the White House’s top liaison to the LGBT community. Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, who is Jewish, has been serving as the Outreach and Recruitment Director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel since last year. Mara Keisling, executive director…
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Fast Forward Israel Touts Gay Friendly Climate — but Religious Leaders Block Progress
(JTA) — It felt like Israel’s gay community had taken a major step forward. On Feb. 23, eight separate Israeli parliamentary committees convened to discuss a broad set of issues facing the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Lawmakers from a range of parties talked about protecting LGBT Israelis in the classroom, at home, in…
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Opinion Coming Out as a Gay Orthodox Talmud Teacher
“What is it like to be a Soloveichik?” This question about my well-known rabbinic family name has accompanied me for much of my life. My grandfather was Ahron Soloveichik and my great-uncle was Joseph B. Soloveitchik. The questions about my identity became even more complex when, three years ago, I came out as gay in…
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Fast Forward Gay ‘Conversion Therapy’ Group Banned In Jersey Is Operating in Israel
The Orthodox Jewish nonprofit JONAH, which purports to help gay men become heterosexual, is operating in Israel after it was ordered closed by a court in New Jersey. Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing has referred patients in Israel to some of the estimated 20 to 30 licensed psychologists and social workers and 50 non-licensed…
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Fast Forward Their Pacific Palisades synagogue is standing, but all three rabbis lost their homes
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News Scoop: Heritage Foundation plans to ‘identify and target’ Wikipedia editors
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News ‘Do you have the Torahs?’ Synagogue races LA wildfire to rescue its past and future
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Opinion Why is Netanyahu poised to OK a ceasefire that’s favorable to Hamas? One word: Trump
In Case You Missed It
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Opinion Gaza ceasefire is the result of political machination — not Donald Trump
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Looking Forward Why the hostage and ceasefire deal is both reassuring and terrifying
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Opinion Is peace really coming? What about the West Bank? 5 crucial questions for Israel post-ceasefire
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Fast Forward Isak Haleva, Turkey’s chief rabbi and face of Jewish minority, dies at 84
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