UK chief rabbi guides Orthodox schools on supporting LGBT students

timesofisrael

Britain’s chief rabbi has published a guidebook for Orthodox Jewish schools to help them provide support for LGBT students in the Jewish community.

The guide by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis calls for a zero-tolerance approach to homophobic or transphobic bullying, despite a biblical prohibition against homosexual acts.

Chief Rabbi publishes first LGBT guide for orthodox schools

bbc

The UK's Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, has published the first ever guide for orthodox Jewish schools to improve the wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pupils.

A spokesman for the Chief Rabbi told the BBC that the guide is viewed as a "game-changer".

Jewish LGBT campaign group, KeshetUK, which helped produce the guide, said it was deeply grateful for the support.

The guide aims to reduce potential harm to LGBT pupils across the community.

Rabbi Mirvis says the document is "an extremely significant milestone" which would have a real and lasting impact.

"Our children need to know that at school, at home and in the community, they will be loved and protected regardless of their sexuality or gender identity," he said in his introduction.

He said orthodox schools had found it difficult to engage with LGBT issues: "So there is an urgent need for authoritative guidance which recognises the reality that there are young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in our schools to whom we have a duty of care.

"While many such students are thriving in Jewish schools, there are many others who endure deep unhappiness and distress due to the mistreatment and hurt they experience."