Many of our members are not yet out of the closet, and we understand the importance of maintaining anonymity and privacy. You do not need to disclose your identity in order to join our programs. To join, fill out the form on the Contact page, and one of our licensed mental health professionals will look over the information you’ve provided to ensure that JQY is the right space for you. This process also allows us to provide support for you in the way that you need it most. 

We understand that many individuals may not feel ready to join our listserve or secret social media groups. Fortunately, there are other ways of connecting with us. Visit our Contact page to get in touch with someone directly. You do not have to go through this alone!

Visit the Contact page to join our newsletter,  email listserv, find out about events, and more.

JQY is an organization that provides community and support to individuals from religious backgrounds, but is not a religious organization. We advocate on behalf of LGBTQ individuals who come from historically nonaccepting communities. Our religious-based events are intended to be welcoming to individuals of all denominations. At JQY, we believe that your level of observance is your personal decision, and none of our members are expected to be at any specific level of religious observance.

We firmly believe in meeting each individual person where they are. We create spaces for individuals who share the common identities of being LGBTQ and Jewish. Our members have many different views on LGBTQ issues and religion, and all are welcome to share their perspectives and experiences with the group and staff. We do not promote a way of life or belief system. We support our members' self-determination, and provide them with support while they explore their own identities, beliefs, and make life decisions.

JQY is open to all LGBTQ Jewish youth. Our support programming is focused on those ages 13-23. We require nothing of our members. There are no obligations or dues necessary in order to become a JQY community member. All you have to do is sign up for our email list, join our App, follow us on social media, or attend an event.

Although we cannot answer that question for you, you are welcome to join our discussion list, Facebook group, and attend our meetings and events in order to explore this further. There is much to learn from the experiences of other JQY members.

While we do not push any agendas, we stand firmly with the National Association of Social Work, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the prevailing mental health field regarding “reparative” or “conversion” therapy. According to multiple studies, “there is no published scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of ‘reparative therapy’ as a treatment to change one’s sexual orientation” and “the potential risks of ‘reparative therapy’ are great and include depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior.” In line with our mission of supporting and empowering LGBTQ Jewish youth, we seek to protect our members from physical and emotional harm, including this ‘therapy.’

There are many ways in which you can contribute to and get involved with the JQY community! We have programs open to people of all ages and backgrounds. Sign up for our newsletter, or visit our events calendar to find out about our upcoming events. Anyone is welcome to email us at info@jqyouth.org with any questions about our programming or being Orthodox and LGBTQ.

It is true that the word "queer" was once used as an offensive epithet. However, the term has since been positively reclaimed by young people and academia. There are multiple definitions of Queer, but JQY uses the word as an umbrella term to include the full spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities outside of cis-gender heterosexuality.

No. JQY is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run by licensed mental health professionals with expertise in LGBTQ issues and a deep understanding of Orthodox Judaism. We believe it is important to create a space where people from similar backgrounds with similar understanding can meet and connect with one another.