JCCV says No to Homophobia
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) GLBT Report has demonstrated that Jewish members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT), community are subjected to harassment and abuse because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, resulting in negative health outcomes such as drug abuse, self-harm, depression and suicide.
Nina Bassat
The Report also found that these health issues are ameliorated when discrimination, fear of discrimination and vilification are reduced or eliminated.
One of the report conclusions was for the Jewish community to address these issues of vilification and become better educated and aware of the impacts of discrimination.
Earlier this year, the JCCV recommended to affiliates and other Jewish community organisations to take positive action and stop the harm, by joining the ‘No to Homophobia’ campaign. Through this campaign, organisations play a key role in reducing abusive behaviour by creating welcoming and safe workplaces and communal centres for members of the GLBTI community, whilst acting as role models for members of the Jewish community.
Nina Bassat AM, President of the JCCV said, “25 Jewish community organisations have now joined the ‘No to Homophobia’ campaign, including several national bodies who are not JCCV affiliates. As a result of this achievement, 32% of the supporting organisations on the ‘No to Homophobia’ website are Jewish.
Many of these organisations have also added statements of support to the website.
This initiative sends a very strong message to the GLBTI community about support in the Jewish community, as well as helping to educate and shift perceptions within the broader Jewish community.
The work is not over in this area and the JCCV, with the support of our GLBTI Reference Group will continue to work towards eliminating bullying, harassment and abuse based on sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.”
For more information on the ‘No to Homophobia’ campaign, please refer to the website: http://www.notohomophobia.com.au/
Not only have the JCCV said No to Homophobia but they have gone a step further and actually given a tick of approval to being gay. This is a wonderful situation because it opens the doors to developing a range of strategies in the Jewish community to supporting the those marginalised people who needs unconditional acceptance from their community.
Check it out here:
http://mikeybear.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/jewish-community-council-of-victoria-says-gay-is-ok/
Michael.