1. NFTY Social Action Leaders Trip 2017
Transgender Inclusion: Understanding the Challenges to Inclusion and Equality
NFTY Social Action Leaders Trip 2017

2. Activity Instructions
Lay your notecards out on the floor in front of you
Write the following things on your notecards:
Write down an adjective to describe your home
Write down an item that you purchased with your own money that you cannot live without
Write down the name of one person in your immediate family that you cannot live without
Write down one word to describe your favorite memory from school
Write down one word to describe your relationship with Judaism

3. Transgender
Cisgender
Gender Identity
Gender Expression
Preferred Gender Pronouns
LGBTQ

4. Timeline of Civil Rights
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion and country of national origin
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
Prohibits workplace discrimination of those over the age of 40
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Prohibits discrimination of persons with disabilities
Civil Rights Basics
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion and country of national origin. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act, passed in 1967, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, made it illegal to discriminate some who is over the age of 40 and on the basis of disability, respectively.

5. Statewide Anti-Discrimination Laws
States that prohibit discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity (20 states & D.C)
States that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation only (2 states)
States that prohibit discrimination against public employees (people who work for a government department or agency) based on sexual orientation and gender identity (7 states)
States that prohibit discrimination against public employees based on sexual orientation only (5 states)
Currently, there is no federal law that explicitly and consistently protects gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals from workplace discrimination.
Instead, there is a patchwork of state legislation, with some states protecting LGBT individuals from discrimination and others offering no protections or only protections for people based on sexual orientation.
States that prohibit discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity (20 states & D.C.): California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington
States that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation only (2 states): New Hampshire, Wisconsin
States that prohibit discrimination against public employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity (7 states): Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Pennsylvania, Virginia

6. Jewish Values
“And God created man in God’s own image, in the image of God (b’tzelem Elohim), God created him; male and female, God created them” (Genesis 1:27).
“The Mishna recognizes people of intermediate sex and gender hundreds of times. And goes on to say that they were not to be harmed; their lives were of equal value to any other person’s...This Jewish approach allows for genders between male and female. It opens space in society. And it protects those who live in the places in between” (Rabbi Reuben Zellman)
“You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9).

7. What you can do: Equality Act (HR. 2282/S. 1006): Other Opportunities:
If your Member of Congress is a co- sponsor of the Equality Act:
Thank them. Members of Congress represent us, so it is our responsibility to tell them our views
If your Member of Congress isn’t a co- sponsor of the Equality Act:
Encourage them to become a co- sponsor. You are one of their constituents, and if you think having comprehensive legislative protections for LGBTQ individuals is important, you should tell them that!
If you live in a state without protections for LGBTQ individuals
Write to your state senator or representative and express your concerns (Maybe you ask if your rabbi can send a letter on behalf of your whole synagogue)
Talk to your rabbi, synagogue president or youth group advisor about bringing LGBTQ awareness programs to the community
Start a Genders & Sexualities Alliance at your school
Use language that is inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities
Listen to the people who champion these identities and allow them to tell you what they need and how you can help

8. Be Who You Needed When You Were Younger

9. Eisendrath Legislative Assistant
Questions?
Feel free to reach out:
Max Antman
Eisendrath Legislative Assistant