LGBTQ-affirming denominations in Judaism

The LGBTQ affirming denominations in Judaism are denominations that affirm same-sex relationships are theologically and morally compatible with the Jewish faith, or that leave it up to each synagogue to determine its position on the subject. These denominations may have statements that support the ordination of LGBTQ rabbis, the blessing of same-sex unions or the same-sex marriages.

Characteristics

Jewish affirming denominations generally have one or more of the following statements about LGBTQ people, or leave it up to each synagogue to determine its position on the subject: ^[1]^[2]

Ordination of LGBTQ rabbis
Blessing of same-sex unions
Same-sex marriages

International

Country	Denomination	Ordination of LGBTQ rabbis	Blessing of same-sex unions	Same-sex marriages
6 countries ^[3]	Alliance for Jewish Renewal ^[4]	Since 2000	Since 2000	Since 2000
7 countries ^[5]	Reconstructing Judaism	Since 1984^[6]	Since 1993^[7]	Since 1993
International ^[8]	World Council of Synagogues	Since 2006^[9]	Since 2006	Since 2012^[10]

Africa

Country	Denomination	Ordination of LGBTQ rabbis	Blessing of same-sex unions	Same-sex marriages	Decisions left to synagogues
South Africa	South African Union for Progressive Judaism ^[11]			Since 2007

North America

Country	Denomination	Ordination of LGBTQ rabbis	Blessing of same-sex unions	Same-sex marriages
Canada and United States	Alliance for Jewish Renewal ^[12]	Since 2000	Since 2000	Since 2000
Canada and United States	Union for Reform Judaism	Since 1990^[13]	Since 2000 ^[14]	Since 2000
Canada and United States	Reconstructing Judaism	Since 1984^[15]	Since 1993^[16]	Since 1993
United States	Society for Humanistic Judaism ^[17]	Since 2004	Since 2004	Since 2004

South America

Country	Denomination	Ordination of LGBTQ rabbis	Blessing of same-sex unions	Same-sex marriages	Decisions left to synagogues
Brazil and Curaçao	Reconstructing Judaism	Since 1984^[18]	Since 1993^[19]	Since 1993

Europe

Country	Denomination	Ordination of LGBTQ rabbis	Blessing of same-sex unions	Same-sex marriages
Germany and United Kingdom	Alliance for Jewish Renewal ^[20]	Since 2000	Since 2000	Since 2000
Germany, Italy and Netherlands	Reconstructing Judaism	Since 1984^[21]	Since 1993^[22]	Since 1993
United Kingdom	Progressive Judaism (United Kingdom) ^[23]	Since 2005	Since 2005	Since 2012

Oceania and Asia

Country	Denomination	Ordination of LGBTQ rabbis	Blessing of same-sex unions	Same-sex marriages	Decisions left to synagogues
Australia and South Korea	Alliance for Jewish Renewal ^[24]	Since 2000	Since 2000	Since 2000
Australia, New Zealand and Asia	Union for Progressive Judaism ^[25]	Since 2007	Since 2007	Since 2011

Organizations not recognized by their denominations

Organizations not affiliated with any particular denomination

References

↑ Michael J. Broyde, Marriage, Sex and Family in Judaism, Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2005, p. 226
↑ Sylvia Barack Fishman, Love, Marriage, and Jewish Families: Paradoxes of a Social Revolution, Brandeis University Press, USA, 2015, p. 76
↑ "Our Community". aleph.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
↑ Daniel Siegel (March 1, 2000). "Enlarging Sacred Space: Ka'dusha & Same-Sex Marriages". keshetonline.org.
↑ "Directory". reconstructingjudaism.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
↑ JTA (March 6, 2007). "Reconstructionists tap lesbian rabbi". jta.org.
↑ Don Lattin (March 20, 2004). "Rabbinical group backs gay marriage". sfgate.com.
↑ "Our Community". aleph.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
↑ Laurie Goodstein (December 7, 2006). "Conservative Jews Allow Gay Rabbis and Unions". nytimes.com.
↑ Neil Rubin (June 1, 2012). "Conservative rabbis approve same-sex marriage ceremony guidelines". jta.org.
↑ Larry B. Stammer (May 28, 2007). "South African group: Same-sex marriages OK". jta.org.
↑ Daniel Siegel (March 1, 2000). "Enlarging Sacred Space: Ka'dusha & Same-Sex Marriages". keshetonline.org.
↑ John Dart (June 26, 1990). "Reform Judaism OKs Gay Rabbis". latimes.com.
↑ Larry B. Stammer (March 30, 2000). "Gay Unions Affirmed by Reform Rabbis". latimes.com.
↑ JTA (March 6, 2007). "Reconstructionists tap lesbian rabbi". jta.org.
↑ Don Lattin (March 20, 2004). "Rabbinical group backs gay marriage". sfgate.com.
↑ "Society for Humanistic Judaism supports marriage rights of same-sex couples". shj.org. April 2004.
↑ JTA (March 6, 2007). "Reconstructionists tap lesbian rabbi". jta.org.
↑ Don Lattin (March 20, 2004). "Rabbinical group backs gay marriage". sfgate.com.
↑ Daniel Siegel (March 1, 2000). "Enlarging Sacred Space: Ka'dusha & Same-Sex Marriages". keshetonline.org.
↑ JTA (March 6, 2007). "Reconstructionists tap lesbian rabbi". jta.org.
↑ Don Lattin (March 20, 2004). "Rabbinical group backs gay marriage". sfgate.com.
↑ Gray, Stephen (7 March 2012). "Reform Judaism backs gay marriage". PinkNews.
↑ Daniel Siegel (March 1, 2000). "Enlarging Sacred Space: Ka'dusha & Same-Sex Marriages". keshetonline.org.
↑ Benjamin Riley (July 5, 2013). "Progressive Jewish body applauds DOMA repeal". starobserver.com.au.
↑ "5,600 join religious gays' organization". Ynetnews. November 14, 2012.
↑ "Who we are". bat-kol.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
↑ "Who we are". worldlgbtqjews.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.

[1] Michael J. Broyde, Marriage, Sex and Family in Judaism, Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2005, p. 226

[2] Sylvia Barack Fishman, Love, Marriage, and Jewish Families: Paradoxes of a Social Revolution, Brandeis University Press, USA, 2015, p. 76

[3] "Our Community". aleph.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.

[4] Daniel Siegel (March 1, 2000). "Enlarging Sacred Space: Ka'dusha & Same-Sex Marriages". keshetonline.org.

[5] "Directory". reconstructingjudaism.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.

[6] JTA (March 6, 2007). "Reconstructionists tap lesbian rabbi". jta.org.

[7] Don Lattin (March 20, 2004). "Rabbinical group backs gay marriage". sfgate.com.

[8] "Our Community". aleph.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.

[9] Laurie Goodstein (December 7, 2006). "Conservative Jews Allow Gay Rabbis and Unions". nytimes.com.

[10] Neil Rubin (June 1, 2012). "Conservative rabbis approve same-sex marriage ceremony guidelines". jta.org.

[11] Larry B. Stammer (May 28, 2007). "South African group: Same-sex marriages OK". jta.org.

[12] Daniel Siegel (March 1, 2000). "Enlarging Sacred Space: Ka'dusha & Same-Sex Marriages". keshetonline.org.

[13] John Dart (June 26, 1990). "Reform Judaism OKs Gay Rabbis". latimes.com.

[14] Larry B. Stammer (March 30, 2000). "Gay Unions Affirmed by Reform Rabbis". latimes.com.

[15] JTA (March 6, 2007). "Reconstructionists tap lesbian rabbi". jta.org.

[16] Don Lattin (March 20, 2004). "Rabbinical group backs gay marriage". sfgate.com.

[17] "Society for Humanistic Judaism supports marriage rights of same-sex couples". shj.org. April 2004.

[18] JTA (March 6, 2007). "Reconstructionists tap lesbian rabbi". jta.org.

[19] Don Lattin (March 20, 2004). "Rabbinical group backs gay marriage". sfgate.com.

[20] Daniel Siegel (March 1, 2000). "Enlarging Sacred Space: Ka'dusha & Same-Sex Marriages". keshetonline.org.

[21] JTA (March 6, 2007). "Reconstructionists tap lesbian rabbi". jta.org.

[22] Don Lattin (March 20, 2004). "Rabbinical group backs gay marriage". sfgate.com.

[23] Gray, Stephen (7 March 2012). "Reform Judaism backs gay marriage". PinkNews.

[24] Daniel Siegel (March 1, 2000). "Enlarging Sacred Space: Ka'dusha & Same-Sex Marriages". keshetonline.org.

[25] Benjamin Riley (July 5, 2013). "Progressive Jewish body applauds DOMA repeal". starobserver.com.au.

[26] "5,600 join religious gays' organization". Ynetnews. November 14, 2012.

[27] "Who we are". bat-kol.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.

[28] "Who we are". worldlgbtqjews.org. Retrieved August 16, 2025.

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v t e LGBTQ topics and Judaism
History Affirming denominations LGBTQ Jews
Issues	Homosexuality in Conservative Judaism same-sex marriage LGBTQ clergy Transgender people
Organizations	A Wider Bridge Aleph Melbourne Bat Kol Beit Haverim Dayenu Eshel Havruta Hod JQY Kamoha Keshet Keshet Rabbis Nehirim Shoval
LGBTQ synagogues	Beit Simchat Torah Bet Mishpachah Beth Chayim Chadashim Or Chadash
Related topics	Gender and Jewish studies Jewish feminism Judaism and sexuality Mi Shebeirach Tumtum