Every June, Pride Month is a celebration of love, resistance, and inclusion for many. It serves as a powerful reminder that queer communities continue to fight for authenticity and acceptance in a world that often pressures individuals to hide aspects of their identities.
For many, Pride has become a sacred space where they can embrace their full selves, without needing to choose between different parts of their identity. However, recent events have cast uncertainty over these feelings of belonging, especially for Jewish queer individuals.
In the wake of increased antisemitism since October 7, concerns have arisen within the Jewish queer community about their safety and acceptance at Pride events. This anxiety doesn’t stem from the fear of violence from external groups; rather, it raises the issue of whether they can be fully embraced within their own community.
Vivid examples of exclusion have emerged from various Pride events across the nation. In Chicago, the Dyke March explicitly barred participants from carrying rainbow flags featuring Jewish stars. Similarly, in Washington, D.C., Jewish organizations faced demands to dissociate from Israel to be allowed to participate in Pride. In Philadelphia, LGBTQ+ Jewish groups were disinvited over their views on Israel, and in San Francisco, Jewish Pride participants experienced harassment for displaying Jewish symbols such as the Star of David.
This rising tide of antisemitism reflects a troubling vulnerability within Jewish communities, further exacerbated by recent violent incidents, such as the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, D.C.
Many Jewish LGBTQ+ individuals ponder their roles in Pride:
Will they be welcomed if they wear a Star of David?
Will they be required to hide their connections to Israel?
Will they be judged simply for being Jewish?
Rabbi Andrew Oberstein of Temple Israel of Boston emphasizes the importance of “makhloket l’shem sh’mayim,” or “disagreement for the sake of heaven,” which promotes healthy discourse and relationship-building amidst differing opinions about critical issues, including Israel and the war in Gaza.
This spirit of acceptance and diversity is essential not only for Jewish communities but also for the broader Boston Pride. The essence of Pride lies in radical inclusivity, acknowledging the complexities of identity among queer individuals of all backgrounds, faiths, races, and political beliefs.
To truly celebrate Pride, the movement must accommodate Jewish LGBTQ+ voices, allowing individuals to express their identities without the fear of exclusion. While criticism of Israeli policies is often fair and necessary, the pressure on Jewish LGBTQ+ individuals to denounce aspects of their identity in order to fit within the community represents a troubling form of erasure.
As Pride organizers in Boston prepare for this year’s festivities, Rabbi Oberstein has partnered with A Wider Bridge, an organization dedicated to promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion in Jewish spaces. They aim to ensure Jewish queer voices are heard and welcomed in a spirit of acceptance.
Rabbi Oberstein expresses gratitude for Boston Pride organizers, urging them to continue listening to Jewish queer voices as they help foster an inclusive environment. He also calls upon LGBTQ+ allies to actively combat antisemitism in all its forms, emphasizing that true solidarity entails recognizing and opposing injustices even when they might be uncomfortable.
With these messages in mind, Rabbi Oberstein has a poignant message for queer Jews who may feel they are not welcome at Pride:
You do belong.
You are exactly who you’re meant to be.
Show up.
Wear your symbols of pride, both Jewish and queer.
Boston’s LGBTQ+ community becomes stronger with every individual who joins and celebrates their multifaceted identity.
Rabbi Oberstein plans to march at Boston Pride this year, serving as a symbol of resistance and affirmation for those who have been marginalized for being too Jewish, too queer, or too vocal.
This Pride, the message is clear: every voice matters, and every identity deserves to be celebrated in full and joyful expression.
image source from：https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/05/30/oberstein-boston-pride-must-fully-include-jews/
