Happy June! This month marks the official beginning of summer, and it’s also Pride Month — a 30-day celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and community, as well as a time to honor and continue the activism that has helped pave the way to greater inclusivity in the United States.
There are many ways to honor the vibrant intersection of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities this month, whether it’s a pre-Pride Parade Jewish gathering or a joyful Pride Shabbat service. But as we acknowledge the progress made toward full inclusion of the LBGTQ+ community in American and Jewish life, it’s also important to recognize the essential organizations working to ensure that every Jewish individual, no matter their gender or sexual identity, feels safe, seen and empowered.
If you’re looking to commemorate Pride Month with a charitable donation, keep scrolling to learn more about four incredible, unique nonprofit organizations that are committed to fostering community, providing critical resources and championing equality across the Jewish world. Happy Pride!
JQY
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JQY “is a mental health organization that empowers Jewish queer teens and young adults to live healthy, joyful lives.” The organization’s diverse programmatic offerings include free therapy and professional trainings; a Jewish queer book club; group activities and holiday celebrations. A signature offering is a weekly drop-in center in Midtown Manhattan that provides kosher pizza and a welcoming, safe space for Jews ages 13-23 of all religious backgrounds and gender and sexual identities.
JQY combines Jewish tradition with clinical best practices, providing essential support for at-risk youth within historically non-accepting communities. Since its founding in 2001, the organization has provided tens of thousands of young Jews with a place to belong. Interested in helping JQY with their mission? Click here to donate.
Keshet
Named after the Hebrew word for “rainbow,” Keshet works tirelessly for the full equality of LGBTQ+ Jews — and their families — within Jewish life. The organization’s advocacy is centered around four pillars: empowering LGBTQ+ youth ages 11-24 and their Jewish allies; transforming Jewish institutions toward equality; advocating for LGBTQ+ rights at local and national levels; and building community for LGBTQ+ Jews of Color.
Among the organization’s recent initiatives is “Move to Thrive,” a program that provides interest-free loans to LGBTQ+ individuals and their families who need to relocate to a different state due to discrimination and/or anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Keshet also recently circulated an open letter in support of transgender rights that was signed by more than 1,100 Jewish clergy and, this fall, they will debut their first-ever LGBTQ+ Jewish family camp for families with children. To support their work, click here.
Third Space
Shaarei Tfiloh, one of Baltimore’s oldest synagogues, is home to a new-ish Jewish cultural institution: Third Space, which opened in 2024 as a place for “meaningful community building, both local and Jewish” that welcomes “the full tapestry of Jewish identities.” Grounded in Jewish culture and wisdom, Third Space — so named for the sociological principle that a third place, in addition to home and work/school, is essential for society and personal well-being — offers a variety of programs, including film screenings, holiday celebrations, lectures and creative workshops.
Designed to be welcoming to Jews of all backgrounds, affinities and gender and sexual identities, Third Space hosts a variety of events geared toward LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies, including regular Queer Jewish Movie Nights, a recent Jewish Joy Drag & Comedy Show with Merriam Levkowitz — known as “America’s Favorite Drag Bubbe” — and comedian Liz Glazer, as well as a photography exhibition showcasing portraits of trans and gender-non-conforming people. To support their work, click here.
Hey Alma
Yes, we are putting ourselves on this list! In case you didn’t know, Hey Alma, which is part of 70 Faces Media, is a nonprofit organization, and we rely on reader donations to keep our radically inclusive Jewish community a lively and welcoming space for all.
From highlighting queer Jews who changed history, sharing moving personal essays exploring the many ways that LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities intersect, and affirming everyone’s place within the Jewish community, Hey Alma is committed to bringing together queer Jews not just in June, but year-round. If Hey Alma has helped you or a loved one feel seen, please consider making a donation this Pride month to support our work. Click here to donate.
This article was sponsored by and produced in partnership with JQY, Keshet and Third Space. It was produced by Hey Alma’s native content team.
