Tag: GLBT Reference Group

JCCV marks decade of “strong advocacy”

SUMMARY OF JCCV’S LGBTI INCLUSION ACTIVITIES

2009 – formation of the LGBT (at the time) Reference Group.

2011 – release of report into discrimination and vilification of LGBT Jews in Victoria.

2014 – JCCV supports and encourages affiliates to support No to Homophobia.

2014 – JCCV wins Hey Grant from the Victorian Government.

2015 – JCCV 1st ever LGBTI Symposium held with approximately 80 attendees with panels from the LGBTI Jewish spectrum. Attendees were cross-denominational.

2015 – Keshet Australia admitted to JCCV as an affiliate – the first Jewish LGBTI organisation affiliate.

2016 – Launched JCCV LGBTI service directory https://bit.ly/2mviycZ

2016 – Youth video winner announced form previous year’s completion.

2017 – Mental Health Forum in light of RCV’s statement to the government’s plebiscite

2017 – JCCV supports civil marriage equality with motion moved by National Council of Jewish Women and seconded by AUJS.

Doron Abramovici comment on JCCV LGBTI achievements - Jul 20 2018.png

“A decade of strong advocacy for LGBTI equality and inclusion! I am very proud to have volunteered for the JCCV for a decade and served on the board for almost 4 years. We have achieved great things together! #lgbti #lgbtiinclusion #mentalhealthmatters #socialinclusion #lgbtijews Big shout out to John Searle, Anton Block, Nina Bassat, Jennifer Huppert, Original Reference Group members Julie Leder, Nathan Rose, Andrew Rajcher, Sally Goldner, Immediate part Executive Director David Marlow and the community for welcoming change.” — Doron Abramovici

JCCV says no to homophobia | AJN

See also:
Media Release: JCCV tackles homophobia but must prove it is serious
No To Homophobia

Friday, March 29, 2013
The Australian  Jewish News
Page 7

JCCV says no to homophobia

PHOEBE ROTH

THE Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) will join the “No to Homophobia” campaign and is asking its affiliate organisations to sign up too.

The “No to Homophobia” initiative aims to challenge all forms of harassment and discrimination faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (GLBTIQ) people.

The campaign aims to reduce the incidence of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic harassment in Victoria – and beyond – by empowering people who identify as GLBTIQ as well as the broader community to respond and speak out against this harassment.

According to JCCV president Nina Bassat, the campaign promotes respect between people and healthy relationships, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identification.

Bassat acknowledged the emotional turmoil members of the GLBTIQ community can face, whether it be at school, in the workplace or in the wider community.

“No-one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity;’ she said. “The mental wellbeing issues in relation to bullying, depression and lack of self-esteem can be catastrophic.’

By Jewish organisations joining the campaign, the JCCV not only anticipates a greater level of understanding and awareness within the Jewish community, but also an education with respect to what constitutes homophobic, biphobic and transphobic harassment. For instance, phrases such as “That’s so gay’.

Sally Goldner, a spokesperson for Transgender Victoria and a member of the JCCV’s GLBTIQ reference group, said as a transgender person she has been received fairly well by the Jewish community, and feels this move can only make people more tolerant.
“This is an amazing step forward that pushes diversity higher. It’s sensational,’ she told The AJN.

The JCCV will officially request that its affiliates become part of this campaign at their next plenum meeting in May.

JCCV update on Melbourne gay radio JOY 94.9 FM – Nov 4 2011

Further to the post on November 3 about the analysis of the JCCV’s report, here’s the podcast of the interview.

Title: The Rainbow Report-Progress Part 3
Author: Joy 94.9
Summary: On this edition of the Rainbow Report Doug with the assistance of his co-host, Chris Warwick from the Defence Force Gay and Lesbian Information Service and hopefully our new producer, speak with Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black from the Centre for Progressive Judaism about the report that looks into GLBT vilification and discrimination in the Jewish community.
Published: Fri, 4 Nov 2011 2:08 PM
Duration: 14:51
Download: RR_PODCAST_04 11 2011_PART 3.mp3

Rainbow Report – Slow Progress at the JCCV?

Last month Doug Pollard spoke to the JCCV’s outgoing President John Searle about the progress of their investigation into vilification of and discrimination against GLBT people in the Jewish community.  Tomorrow he discusses the findings of the JCCV’s investigation with Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black from the Leo Baeck Centre.

Tune in to JOY 94.9 in Melbourne or via live streaming on www.joy.org.au at 12:30pm (UTC/GMT+11) on Friday November 4 2011.

If you’d like to know a little more about Jonathan, this article will give you an idea of the wonderful person that he is.

 

Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black

Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black

 

SLOW PROGRESS AT JCCV?

“Regular listeners will know that I’ve been following the story of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and their somewhat tortuous relations with the gay and lesbian community

This week saw the publication of their report into GLBT discrimination and vilification in the Jewish Community, and it’s fair to say that while it was progress of a sort, most seemed to feel it was far too little.  Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, from the Leo Baeck Centre for Progressive Judaism in Melbourne, gives us his reactions to the report.”

Report raises concerns for Jewish GLBT community | AJN

4 Nov 2011
The Australian Jewish News Melbourne edition
ADAM KAMIEN

Report raises concerns for Jewish GLBT community

“I was concerned that some rabbis still practised or recommended some form of aversion, or conversion therapy.”
Sally Goldner
JCCV GLBT reference group

A NUMBER of recommendations for tackling “discrimination, harassment and abuse” faced by members of Melbourne’s Jewish gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community have been put forward by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV).

In a report issued by a reference group comprising members of the JCCV executive, and the GLBT Jewish community, as well as representatives from Jewish Care and Australian Jewish Psychologists, concern was also expressed over the resultant mental-health issues those affected could experience, such as depression and suicide

JCCV president John Searle said the study was the first of its kind, and that he hoped it would help improve foster tolerance and acceptance.

“We have recognised the need to deal openly with issues of vilification and discrimination in our community, and hope that this report will play a part in educating members of the community so as to reduce prejudice and incidence of mental health issues among our GLBT community members,” Searle told The AJN.

The report also identified challenges facing the Orthodox community, which it said must reconcile “the rulings of Jewish law with the need to ensure that all people are treated with compassion and acceptance”.

The report offers a number of recommendations, including increasing the level of education within schools, professional development programs for rabbis, and the adoption by all community organisations of a policy prohibiting discrimination and vilification based on a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity.

Spokesperson for the transgender community, and a member of the JCCV reference group Sally Goldner, said the report had shed light on the challenges facing the Jewish GLBT community.

“The report has given us a really clear picture of where things are at, which we didn’t really know,” Goldner said.

“There was anecdotal evidence, but what this has done is put it into a succinct picture so we know where to move forward.”

Goldner described the dialogue between the GLBT community and the wider Jewish community as “pioneering”.

“The report is a great step, and if the things it recommends can happen in the next three years and we check and see further progress, I think that’s excellent.”

But there is still cause for concern according to Goldner, who said there were some disturbing findings.

“I was concerned that some rabbis still practised or recommended some form of aversion, or conversion therapy. That is disconcerting both objectively and as someone who has been through the psychological side of attempted conversion therapy. It’s a very frightening process, and I’m concerned that anyone would still think that might be possible.”