Reform Jewish Leader Applauds Historic Move by the Boy Scouts of America to Begin Including Transgender Members

WASHINGTON - January 31, 2017 -In response to the Boy Scouts of America's announcement that they will begin accepting members based on the gender listed on their application, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, Central Conference of American Rabbis and wider Reform Movement:

"We applaud the Boy Scouts of America for taking this important step towards full equality for all of their members. As Reform Jews, we believe that every person is created in the image of God and that the Divine spark is present in each of us, thus we are all equally deserving of dignity and respect. This announcement is a momentous step toward broader inclusion and equality of transgender and gender non-conforming youth and adults in our society."


The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.

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