BREAKING NEWS

US Reform Jews poised to adopt sweeping transgender rights policy

Temples and synagogues affiliated with the nation's largest Jewish movement could adopt gender-neutral bathrooms and their rabbis would be encouraged to give sermons on transgender topics, under a groundbreaking resolution expected to pass at a conference of Reform Jews on Thursday.
The proposal features some of the most far-reaching policies for transgendered men and women seen among any of the nation's mainstream religious organizations, according to advocates for gay and transgendered rights.
It also has generated little discord within the movement of 1.5 million North America Jews affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism, the organization that will vote on the measure as part of its biennial conference in Orlando.
"It's a big deal but at the same time it's not controversial for them at all," said Michael Toumayan of the national Human Rights Campaign, which advocates for gay rights.