Keshet Audited Financials 2017

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Keshet Audited Financials 2017 KESHET, INC. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016 KESHET, INC. CONTENTS Independent Auditors’ Report.................................................................................................. 1-2 Financial Statements Statements of Financial Position ................................................................................................3 Statements of Activities and Changes in Net Assets ............................................................. 4-5 Statements of Functional Expenses ....................................................................................... 6-7 Statements of Cash Flows ..........................................................................................................8 Notes to Financial Statements ................................................................................................. 9-18 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT To the Board of Directors of Keshet, Inc. Report on the Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Keshet, Inc. (a nonprofit organization), which comprise the statements of financial position as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related statements of activities and changes in net assets, functional expenses and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements. Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. Auditors’ Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors’ judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditors consider internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. 1 Opinion In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Keshet, Inc. as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Boston, Massachusetts November 15, 2018 2 KESHET, INC. STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016 2017 2016 Assets Cash $ 739,585 $ 382,878 Grants receivable and promises to give, net 1,267,920 1,279,433 Contributions receivable 2,802 15,681 Property and equipment, net 17,145 19,715 Security deposits 12,523 7,058 Prepaid expense 64,076 48,844 Total Assets $ 2,104,051 $ 1,753,609 Liabilities and Net Assets Accounts payable $ 17,637 $ 26,014 Accrued expenses 79,597 38,361 Deferred revenue 1,968 3,133 Total Liabilities 99,202 67,508 Net Assets Unrestricted 198,975 182,933 Temporarily restricted 1,805,874 1,503,168 Total Net Assets 2,004,849 1,686,101 Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 2,104,051 $ 1,753,609 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 3 KESHET, INC. STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017 Temporarily Unrestricted Restricted Total Support and Revenue Grants $ 261,084 $ 1,429,000 $ 1,690,084 Contributions 748,136 -- 748,136 Special events, net of expenses 163,486 -- 163,486 Training and consulting fees 42,643 -- 42,643 Other income 14,438 -- 14,438 Net assets released from restriction 1,126,294 (1,126,294) -- Total Support and Revenue 2,356,081 302,706 2,658,787 Expenses Program services 1,779,266 -- 1,779,266 Support services General and administrative 308,055 -- 308,055 Fundraising 252,718 -- 252,718 Total Expenses 2,340,039 -- 2,340,039 Increase in Net Assets 16,042 302,706 318,748 Net Assets at Beginning of Year 182,933 1,503,168 1,686,101 $ 198,975 $ 1,805,874 $ 2,004,849 Net Assets at End of Year The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 4 KESHET, INC. STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 Temporarily Unrestricted Restricted Total Support and Revenue Grants $ 85,000 $ 2,032,963 $ 2,117,963 Contributions 749,168 -- 749,168 Special events, net of expenses 112,913 -- 112,913 Training and consulting fees 57,162 -- 57,162 Other income 16,435 -- 16,435 Fundraising 10,819 -- 10,819 Net assets released from restriction 885,361 (885,361) -- Total Support and Revenue 1,916,858 1,147,602 3,064,460 Expenses Program services 1,325,463 -- 1,325,463 Support services General and administrative 136,225 -- 136,225 Fundraising 347,641 -- 347,641 Total Expenses 1,809,329 -- 1,809,329 Increase in Net Assets 107,529 1,147,602 1,255,131 Net Assets at Beginning of Year 75,404 355,566 430,970 Net Assets at End of Year $ 182,933 $ 1,503,168 $ 1,686,101 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 5 KESHET, INC. STATEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017 Program General and Services Administration Fundraising Totals Salaries $ 938,822 $ 112,659 $ 200,282 $ 1,251,763 Payroll taxes and employee benefits 227,107 27,253 48,449 302,809 Consultants and contractors 170,037 30,625 22,760 223,422 Occupancy 105,285 56,290 4,233 165,808 Travel and accomodations 86,355 7,578 15,397 109,330 Professional services 44,212 44,212 -- 88,424 Space rental 67,304 1,408 6,426 75,138 Food and entertainment 42,869 1,736 25,106 69,711 Printing and reproduction 27,415 203 19,873 47,491 Office and program supplies 18,280 6,139 2,992 27,411 Postage and shipping 14,042 2,853 9,658 26,553 Merchant account fees 6,313 6,267 46 12,626 Miscellaneous expense and bad debt 5,855 5,855 -- 11,710 Marketing and promotion 5,941 2,002 1,150 9,093 Mebership dues and subscriptions 5,418 94 2,253 7,765 Program evaluation 6,969 -- -- 6,969 Insurance 2,616 2,615 -- 5,231 Event registration expense 3,099 76 144 3,319 Professional development 1,327 190 194 1,711 1,779,266 308,055 358,963 2,446,284 Less special events -- -- 106,245 106,245 Total Functional Expenses $ 1,779,266 $ 308,055 $ 252,718 $ 2,340,039 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 6 KESHET, INC. STATEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 Program General and Services Administration Fundraising Totals Salaries $ 773,760 $ 94,988 $ 178,284 $ 1,047,032 Payroll taxes and employee benefits 159,341 19,561 33,318 212,220 Program consultants 101,241 -- 450 101,691 Events and meeting costs 24,870 268 67,522 92,660 Rent and utilities 70,118 6,833 13,291 90,242 Travel 50,939 763 30,537 82,239 Professional fees 36,256 4,451 7,581 48,288 Other consultants 8,765 122 22,095 30,982 Postage and shipping 3,324 312 20,401 24,037 Office and program supplies 15,480 1,169 3,409 20,058 Website 12,908 1,585 2,699 17,192 Events consultants 7,318 -- 9,607 16,925 Depreciation 12,700 1,559 2,655 16,914 Bank and credit card processing fees 11,281 1,358 2,317 14,956 Telephone 10,989 1,058 1,801 13,848 Computer and equipment 6,842 553 3,859 11,254 Printing and publishing 2,603 38 8,361 11,002 Miscellaneous expense and bad debt 5,203 822 2,023 8,048 Advertising and promotion 4,161 -- 2,655 6,816 Repairs and maintenance 3,753 461 785 4,999 Insurance 2,489 306 520 3,315 Professional development 1,122 18 118 1,258 1,325,463 136,225 414,288 1,875,976 Less special events -- -- 66,647 66,647 $ 1,325,463 $ 136,225 $ 347,641 $ 1,809,329 Total Functional Expenses The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 7 KESHET, INC. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016 2017 2016 Cash Flows from Operating Activities Change in net assets $ 318,748 $ 1,255,131 Adjustments to reconcile change in net assets to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation expense 9,632 16,914 Bad debt expense 9,610 3,702 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Prepaid expenses (15,232) (40,126) Contributions receivable 12,879 (7,799) Grants receivable and promises to give 1,903 (974,523) Security deposits (5,465) (500) Accounts payable (8,377) (36,999) Accrued expenses 41,236 (18,438) Deferred revenue (1,165) 3,133 Total Adjustments 45,021 (1,054,636) Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 363,769 200,495 Net Cash Used in Investing Activities Purchase of property and equipment (7,062) -- Net Increase in Cash 356,707 200,495 Cash at Beginning of Year 382,878 182,383 Cash at End of Year $ 739,585 $ 382,878 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Recommended publications
  • “Destroy Every Closet Door” -Harvey Milk
    “Destroy Every Closet Door” -Harvey Milk Riya Kalra Junior Division Individual Exhibit Student-composed words: 499 Process paper: 500 Annotated Bibliography Primary Sources: Black, Jason E., and Charles E. Morris, compilers. An Archive of Hope: Harvey Milk's Speeches and Writings. University of California Press, 2013. This book is a compilation of Harvey Milk's speeches and interviews throughout his time in California. These interviews describe his views on the community and provide an idea as to what type of person he was. This book helped me because it gave me direct quotes from him and allowed me to clearly understand exactly what his perspective was on major issues. Board of Supervisors in January 8, 1978. City and County of San Francisco, sfbos.org/inauguration. Accessed 2 Jan. 2019. This image is of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from the time Harvey Milk was a supervisor. This image shows the people who were on the board with him. This helped my project because it gave a visual of many of the key people in the story of Harvey Milk. Braley, Colin E. Sharice Davids at a Victory Party. NBC, 6 Nov. 2018, www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/sharice-davids-lesbian-native-american-makes- political-history-kansas-n933211. Accessed 2 May 2019. This is an image of Sharcie Davids at a victory party after she was elected to congress in Kansas. This image helped me because ti provided a face to go with he quote that I used on my impact section of board. California State, Legislature, Senate. Proposition 6.
    [Show full text]
  • Toward a Gender-Inclusive Hevra Kadisha
    Toward A Gender-Inclusive Hevra Kadisha 1 Tahara I’m wondering about you, chevra kadisha, the “holy society,” who will prepare my body, once I’m no longer in it, for the earth. Will you know me already, or see me for the first time as you wash and shroud me, as my father was washed and dressed in simple white tachrichim, for those about to stand before God. Perhaps by then I’ll know if I believe in God. I like the democratic nature of the shroud, an equalizing garment. You may see a body that surprises you. You may not have seen a man’s body like this one before you, which I hope is very old, wrinkled, and (since I’m wishing) fit, muscled as much as an old man can be. You’ll see scars. Ragged dog bit forearm, elbow my father picked gravel from over the sink, then flushed with foaming iodine, and the long double horizons on my chest, which trunked my body like a tree. If I am unexpected, let me not seem grotesque to you, as I have to many people, perhaps even my own parents, and others whose highest kindness was to say nothing. Please let me return to dust in peace, as the others did, and recite those beautiful psalms, remembering, as you go about your holy ritual, how frightening it is to be naked before another, at the mercy of a stranger’s eyes, without even any breath. -Miller Oberman Copyright © 2019 by Miller Oberman Originally published in Poem-a-Day on December 10, 2019, by the Academy of American Poets.
    [Show full text]
  • No Longer Alone a Resource Manual for Rural Sexual Minority Youth and the Adults Who Serve Them
    No Longer Alone A Resource Manual for Rural Sexual Minority Youth and the Adults Who Serve Them. Christopher J. Stapel This resource manual was made possible by the Acknowledgements generous financial support of the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus’s Open Gate Foundation. Additionally, the following organizations provided expertise, resources, access to professional networks, and moral support: Bradley University Common Ground, Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation, COLAGE, District 202, Family and Children’s Services, Fenway Community Health, Fringe Benefits, Gay and Lesbian Service Organization, GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force, GLSEN, Harvard College BGLTSA, Harvard Graduate School of Education PRIDE, Harvard School of Public Health, Health Care and Rehabili- tation Services, Health Care of Southeastern Massachusetts Inc., Illinois Federation of Teachers, In Your Face Gorilla Theater, LaCrosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Asso- ciation Inc., McLean County AIDS Task Force, National Association of GSA Networks, National Coalition for LBGT Health, NEA GLBT Caucus, Outfront Minnesota, Outright Maine, Outright Vermont, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, Prairie Flame, Safe Schools Coalition, Safe Schools NC, SDA Kinship International, Teaching Tolerance, Youth Alliance for Diversity, Youth and Shelter Services Inc., and Youth Guardian Services. I extend my sincere gratitude to the countless rural students, teachers, health profession- als, religious leaders, program directors, social workers, researchers, and advocates across twenty-five states who shared the personal stories that made this project a success. Finally, I am indebted to Sarah for her creative contribu- tions and Michelle for her wisdom and enthusiasm. Christopher J. Stapel is an openly gay high school math About the Author teacher and advisor at the Boston Community Leadership Academy, a pilot high school of the Boston Public Schools.
    [Show full text]
  • Kol B'mishpachat Elohim
    Kol B’mishpachat Elohim All in God’s Family: A Jewish Guide to Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families Kol B’mishpachat Elohim All in God’s Family: A Jewish Guide to Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families By Suzie Schwartz Jacobson, Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman, and Fintan Moore With Catherine Bell, Ru Cymrot-Wu, Barbara Satin, and Vicki Wunsch Kol B’mishpachat Elohim / All in God’s Family: A Jewish Guide to Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families is a publication National Gay and Lesbian Task Force ’s Institute for Welcoming Resources 122 W. Franklin Avenue, Suite 210 Minneapolis, MN 55404 612.821.4397 www.TheTaskForce.org www.WelcomingResources.org in partnership with Keshet COLAGE Family Equality Council 284 Amory Street 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 830 PO Box 206 Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 San Francisco, CA 94103 Boston, MA 02133 617.524.9227 415.861.5437 617.502.8700 www.keshetonline.org www.colage.org www.familyequality.org © 2014 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Institute for Welcoming Resources Kol B’mishpachat Elohim All in God’s Family: A Jewish Guide to Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families is intended to help make your congregation a welcoming place for LGBT families. In addition to this publication, you will need: Documentary In My Shoes: Stories of Youth with LGBT Parents A film by Jen Gilomen, produced by the COLAGE Youth Leadership and Action Program Phototext Exhibit That’s So Gay: Portraits of Youth with LGBT Parents A do-it-yourself exhibit of phototext portraits of children of LGBT parents from the COLAGE Youth Leadership and Action Program The companion resources above are available as free downloads at: www.WelcomingResources.org/resources In addition, we also recommend that participants purchase the book Families Like Mine by Abigail Garner, available at Amazon and other booksellers.
    [Show full text]
  • It Is Fitting That We Come Together Today, on the Day the Members Of
    I would like to begin by thanking David Berger and the other Keshet organizers for allowing me to submit a paper to be read to you in my absence. I am, regrettably, unable to be in New York today, but am grateful for the honor of having been asked to participate in this way, nevertheless. My talk is entitled: Svara, Queers, and the Future of Rabbinic Judaism According to Masechet Sanhedrin [5a], there are two requirements for one who wants to exercise rabbinic authority—one must be both gamirna and savirna. Now, what do these Aramaic terms mean? Gamirna implies that one has to have amassed sufficient knowledge or learning. Basically, they gotta know their stuff. And savirna implies they have to have the ability to exercise svara. But what is this svara that is so crucial to functioning as a rabbi and to interpreting God’s will? It seems pretty straightforward: svara, the ability to be “savir,” “reasonable.” The capacity to reason. But, actually, svara is much more complicated, and, it turns out, is not only a prerequisite for those aspiring to rabbinic authority, but is probably the most significant source of Jewish law we have. After the destruction of the Second Temple, our founding Rabbis increased the number of places to which they could turn to discover God’s will—that is, the sources of Jewish Law—from one to five. In addition to our old standby—a verse in the Torah, which they called kra (and which legal scholars call midrash)—they added ma’aseh (precedent), minhag (custom), takkanah (legislation) and last but not least, svara.
    [Show full text]
  • Media Reference Guide
    media reference guide NINTH EDITION | AUGUST 2014 GLAAD MEDIA REFERENCE GUIDE / 1 GLAAD MEDIA CONTACTS National & Local News Media Sports Media [email protected] [email protected] Entertainment Media Religious Media [email protected] [email protected] Spanish-Language Media GLAAD Spokesperson Inquiries [email protected] [email protected] Transgender Media [email protected] glaad.org/mrg 2 / GLAAD MEDIA REFERENCE GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION FAIR, ACCURATE & INCLUSIVE 4 GLOSSARY OF TERMS / LANGUAGE LESBIAN / GAY / BISEXUAL 5 TERMS TO AVOID 9 TRANSGENDER 12 AP & NEW YORK TIMES STYLE 21 IN FOCUS COVERING THE BISEXUAL COMMUNITY 25 COVERING THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY 27 MARRIAGE 32 LGBT PARENTING 36 RELIGION & FAITH 40 HATE CRIMES 42 COVERING CRIMES WHEN THE ACCUSED IS LGBT 45 HIV, AIDS & THE LGBT COMMUNITY 47 “EX-GAYS” & “CONVERSION THERAPY” 46 LGBT PEOPLE IN SPORTS 51 DIRECTORY OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES 54 GLAAD MEDIA REFERENCE GUIDE / 3 INTRODUCTION Fair, Accurate & Inclusive Fair, accurate and inclusive news media coverage has played an important role in expanding public awareness and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) lives. However, many reporters, editors and producers continue to face challenges covering these issues in a complex, often rhetorically charged, climate. Media coverage of LGBT people has become increasingly multi-dimensional, reflecting both the diversity of our community and the growing visibility of our families and our relationships. As a result, reporting that remains mired in simplistic, predictable “pro-gay”/”anti-gay” dualisms does a disservice to readers seeking information on the diversity of opinion and experience within our community. Misinformation and misconceptions about our lives can be corrected when journalists diligently research the facts and expose the myths (such as pernicious claims that gay people are more likely to sexually abuse children) that often are used against us.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion and Lgbtq People in Us History
    Published online 2016 www.nps.gov/subjects/tellingallamericansstories/lgbtqthemestudy.htm LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History is a publication of the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service. We are very grateful for the generous support of the Gill Foundation, which has made this publication possible. The views and conclusions contained in the essays are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government. © 2016 National Park Foundation Washington, DC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced without permission from the publishers. Links (URLs) to websites referenced in this document were accurate at the time of publication. THEMES The chapters in this section take themes as their starting points. They explore different aspects of LGBTQ history and heritage, tying them to specific places across the country. They include examinations of LGBTQ community, civil rights, the law, health, art and artists, commerce, the military, sports and leisure, and sex, love, and relationships. STRUGGLES21 IN BODY AND SPIRIT: RELIGION AND LGBTQ PEOPLE IN US HISTORY Drew Bourn Introduction The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once observed that eleven o'clock on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in the United States.1 But segregation goes beyond a separation between black churches and white churches. There is a tremendous variety of religious communities in the US - Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Pagans, and others.
    [Show full text]
  • A Jewish Guide to Marking Transgender Day of Remembrance Contents Introduction
    A Jewish Guide to Marking Transgender Day of Remembrance Contents Introduction .................................................................................................... 3 Readings for Services ...................................................................................... 4 I Am: Trans People Speak ............................................................................... 6 My Jewish Transgender Journey .................................................................. 8 Rabbinical Testimony in Support of the Massachusetts Transgender Equal Rights Bill .............................................13 Sermon ..........................................................................................................20 Text Study: Gender Diversity in Jewish Sacred Texts .................................23 Ways to Take Action in Your Community ....................................................33 it is our role as religious leaders to ensure that our “communities are places where everyone can embrace their whole selves and live up to their divine potential. — R. Joseph Berman ” keshet | 1 | www.keshetonline.org one of the most important teachings in the Jewish tradition “is that every human being is created b’tzelem elohim, “in God’s image,” which is interpreted to mean that every person must be treated with dignity and respect. unfortunately, transgender people have too often been the victims of blatant discrimination and of violence, their humanity and Godliness denied. And as a congregational rabbi, i have had congregants,
    [Show full text]
  • Safe Zone Training
    Safe Zone Ally Training Manual 1 Safe Zone Ally Training An Introduction to MMA’s Safe Zone Ally Program The “Safe Zone” symbol is a message to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and their allies. The message is that the person displaying this symbol is understanding, supportive and trustworthy if a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person needs help, advice or just someone with whom s/he can talk. The person displaying this symbol can also give accurate information about sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Our Mission The mission of the Safe Zone Ally Program is to provide a network of safe and supportive allies to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community at Maine Maritime Academy. Our Goal The Safe Zone Ally Program responds to the needs of the Maine Maritime Academy community. The goal of this program is to provide a welcoming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons by establishing an identifiable network of supportive persons who can provide support, information and a safe place for LGBT persons within our campus community. Those who have committed to being Safe Zone Allies indicate that bigotry and discrimination, specifically regarding LGBT persons, are not tolerated. 2 Safe Zone Ally Training The Safe Zone Symbol The Meaning of the Symbol: The Triangle: represents the zone of safety - a pink triangle is one of the symbols of the LGBT pride movement - During the era of Hitler's rise to power, homosexual males, and to a lesser extent females, were persecuted and male homosexual acts were outlawed.
    [Show full text]
  • ALIENATED JEWS What About Outreach to Jewish Lesbians?
    ALIENATED JEWS What about Outreach to Jewish Lesbians? DANITA MUSHKAT T^he terms "Jewish cominuity" and "out- sociopsychological consequences of ethnic X reach" appear extensively in Jewish com­ diversity on the "coming out" process for munal policies and debates over the health of lesbians and gays. In their silence, lesbian North American Jewry. However, the mean­ and Jewish identity theorists alike unwit­ ings of these terms and their translation into tingly helped reproduce the beliefs that (1) be­ practice are not clear. In particular, there is ing Jewish and lesbian are incompatible debate concerning (I) what constitutes Jew­ affiliations and that (2) the processes of Jew­ ish continuity, (2) are Jewish identities erod­ ish and lesbian identity formation are mutu­ ing or transforming, (3) what are effective ally exclusive journeys and thereby not sig­ outreach strategies, and (4) which "alienated nificant factors in each other's unfolding. Jews" should be given priority in terms of Rendered invisible as Jews within lesbian resources. This article explores the lives of feminist orbits and similarly so as lesbians nine such Toronto-based alienated Jews, docu­ within mainstream Jewish circles, Jewish menting the unique challenges lesbians face lesbians have found their concerns and needs as Jews. ignored by communal leaders and front line Unofficially welcomed as paying mem­ workers. Indeed, the alienating effect of bers in Toronto congregations and as Jewish invisibility is a dominant theme not only in philanthropists, Jewish gays and lesbians re­ this study but also in many ofthe life stories main marginalized, only gaining institutional of Jewish lesbians found in autobiographical acceptance by de-emphasizing their sexual and Jewish therapy works.
    [Show full text]
  • Keshet Pride Shabbat Sermon Guide
    Keshet Pride Shabbat Sermon Guide Developed for Keshet by Leora Spitzer The goal of this guide is to provide some suggestions, themes, and resources for clergy planning to give a sermon about or related to Pride Month. “Queer joy is revolutionary. Protect every spark and feed it until it catches and ignites. Having a moment of delight or pleasure doesn’t make your fury less real, it makes it more sustainable.” ~S. Bear Bergman • Questions and Themes by Parsha / Weekly Torah Portion: o Shlach L’kha. In this portion, the spies report that “we looked like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we must have seemed to them.” How can we avoid making anyone feel like “grasshoppers?” How do we ensure that everyone in our communities feels seen and valued? (Num:13:3) We repeat Numbers 14:18 and 14:20 over and over throughout the Yom Kippur liturgy. How can we think about this model of accountability, forgiveness, and relationship in the context of reckoning with institutional homophobia, transphobia, and queerphobia? o Korach Korach frames his rebellion as an act of solidarity and allyship with regular Israelites, but many commentators understand it as motivated by his own personal desire for power. What can we learn from this story about how to be a good ally and truly stand in solidarity with marginalized people? God plans to punish the whole community for Korach’s rebellion, but Moses and Aaron argue that it’s unfair to hold everyone accountable for one person’s actions. God gives the people an opportunity to distance themselves from Korach before everyone in his vicinity is swallowed by the earth.
    [Show full text]
  • Somerville LGBTQ Resource Guide
    City of Somerville LGBTQ Programs & Services Directory 2013 Prepared by the LGBT Liaison Elizabeth Field, Tufts University Tisch Scholar Ryan Parigoris, & The Office of Somerville Commissions Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, City of Somerville Categories Advocacy Work Elder Services Boston Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Gay and Lesbian Advocates and AA Central Service Committee of Eastern Social Services (Glass) Defenders (GLAD) Mass CASPAR (Cambridge and Somerville Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education *Community Servings Program for Alcoholism and Drug Network for Massachusetts Boston Prime Timers Rehabilitation) Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Ethos Ethos Defamation (GLAAD) Fenway Health Fenway Health Gay and Lesbian Medical Association Leonard Florence Center for Living Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) LGBT Aging Project Health Access Project Website MassEquality The LGBT Aging Issues Network Gay and Lesbian Medical Association Mass Trans Political Coalition (MTPC) MassEquality Hispanic Black Gay Coalition National Gay and Lesbian Task Force The National Association on HIV Over The Men’s Action Life Empowerment (NGLTF) Fifty (NAOF) (MALE) Center Old Lesbians Organizing for Change The Multicultural AIDS Coalition Alcohol and Drug Addiction Support Ova4D *Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Programs Rainbow Lifelong Learning Institute *Teen Connection AA Central Service Committee of Eastern Boston The Triangle Program at Arbour-HRI Mass Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Hospital AIDS Action Committee Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE) Youth on Fire *CASPAR (Cambridge and Somerville *Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Program for Alcoholism and Drug *Somerville Council on Aging Legal Aid Rehabilitation) South Shore Elder Services AIDS Action Committee Fenway Health Stonewall Communities Osher Lifelong American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of K-Street Facilities Committee, Inc.
    [Show full text]