The Tzedek Social Justice Fellowship is invested in work that celebrates and affirms lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people’s lives. Even on the heels of marriage equality we understand that there is so much work to be done— from employment protections to access to healthcare, from shifting the culture of homophobia in schools to resisting overcriminalization, from advocating for homeless queer youth to combating the persistent stigma of HIV/AIDS. We’re at a critical moment.
At Tzedek, we center LGBTQ experience. We are radically inclusive of a diverse range of sexualities and gender identities. Our trainers and Fellows are queers, allies, or accomplices.
Because so much has changed for LGBTQ people over the last fifty years, it’s easy to believe that progress and full-fledged equality have been achieved. And yet we know that many LGBTQ folks are still not welcome at their family’s dinner tables or able to access culturally competent healthcare or presume safety. Although LGBTQ activism has been dominated by marriage equality (and white and resourced folks), there is finally a shared understanding that we need to work in coalitions and think intersectionally beyond our own experience.
Jobs in LGBTQ Rights
Fellowship opportunities include jobs that address LGBTQ rights, which is one of our core focal areas. Some examples of Tzedek Fellows work in LGBTQ rights include:
- Collaborating with Campaign for Southern Equality to create a funding network for grassroots LGBTQ activists throughout the South.
- Organizing LGBTQ Jew gatherings and assessing the inclusivity of services at the JCC (Jewish Community Center).
- Developing LGBTQ inclusive curriculum at Our VOICE.
All Tzedek Fellows work to create safe spaces, supporting each other to express themselves as individuals.
Training for Effective Work on LGBTQ Issues
All Tzedek fellows benefit from training sessions with a focus on LGBTQ issues. These include topics such as:
- History of LGBTQ Activism
- Transgender Advocacy
- Attendance at Creating Change