JQY (or Jewish Queer Youth) is a

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

-based nonprofit organization that supports and empowers LGBTQ youth with a focus on those from

Orthodox Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to: Religion * Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pag ...

Chassidic Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism (Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of contem ...

, and

Sephardic Sephardic (or Sephardi) Jews (, ; lad, Djudíos Sefardíes), also ''Sepharadim'' , Modern Hebrew: ''Sfaradim'', Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: Səp̄āraddîm, also , ''Ye'hude Sepharad'', lit. "The Jews of Spain", es, Judíos sefardíes (or ), ...

Mizrahi ''Mizrachi'' or ''Mizrahi'' ( he, מזרחי) has two meanings. In the literal Hebrew meaning ''Eastern'', it may refer to: *Mizrahi Jews, Jews from the Middle East * Mizrahi (surname), a Sephardic surname, given to Jews who got to the Iberian P ...

homes. The group was founded in 2001 as an online

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, and began meeting in the Manhattan JCC in 2003. The organization firmly believes in meeting each individual person where they are. JQY creates spaces for individuals who share the common identities of being LGBTQ and Jewish. Their members have many different views on LGBTQ issues and religion, and all are welcome to share their perspectives and experiences with the group and staff. JQY does not promote a way of life or belief system. The group support members' self-determination, and provides them with support while they explore their own identities, own beliefs, and make life decisions. JQY's hallmark program is the Drop-in Center for LGBTQ Jewish Teen which is open to anyone who is 13 to 23 years of age. The organization contributed a video to the

It Gets Better Project It Gets Better is an Internet-based 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth around the globe. It was founded in the United States by gay activist, author, m ...

. JQY marched with Eshel and other Jewish LGBTQ organizations in the Celebrate Israel Parade of 2012, the first year openly LGBT groups were permitted to participate. Participation in

pride parade A pride parade (also known as pride march, pride event, or pride festival) is an outdoor event celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer culture, queer (LGBTQ) social and self-acceptance, achievements, LGBT rights by country o ...

s has been a contentious issue in the Orthodox LGBTQ community. In 2017 top Jewish musicians, such as

Matisyahu Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), known by his stage name Matisyahu (; ), is an American reggae singer, rapper, beatboxer Beatboxing (also beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum mac ...

Neshama Carlebach Neshama Carlebach (; born October 9, 1974) is an American teacher, entertainer, singer, and the protégé of her late father, Shlomo Carlebach. Her career as a recording artist and as an occasional essayist has reached interfaith communities and ...

and Eli Schwebel performed in support of JQY. JQY's crisis warm-line can be reached via call or text at 551-JQY-HOPE (551-579-4673). Contact this number to speak with one of JQY's licensed mental health professionals. Recent research suggests that JQY successfully helps their members build an essential peer network and negotiate tensions between religion and sexual orientation.Etengoff, C. (2013). Gay men's and their religious relatives' negotiation of sexual orientation, religion, family values, and homophobia (doctoral dissertation). New York, New York US: Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. (Accession Order No.3561270)

References

External links

Official website
Jewish organizations based in the United States Religious organizations based in the United States LGBT and Judaism LGBT organizations in the United States LGBT Orthodox Jewish organizations Gay Orthodox Jewish organizations {{judaism-org-stub