5 Reasons Being an Orthodox Rabbi Compelled Me to Support Gay Marriage

[King_David]

I am coming out of the closet. I am an Orthodox rabbi and an advocate for gay marriage.

The history of the theological issue is complicated, but the moral issue is increasingly clear. Faith leaders must stand as public allies; private support is no longer enough. Fifteen states and counting have formally approved marriage equality. It's time that traditional faith leaders stand for gay rights, including the right to marriage.

As an Orthodox Jew, I believe the Bible was given by G-d, that Jewish law is binding, and that change in our religious practice cannot happen impetuously. It also means that I take the pervasive biblical call for justice very seriously. I am pro-gay-rights because I am an Orthodox rabbi, not in spite of it.

I only officiate at marriages between Jewish men and women according to the framework of the tradition, but I will argue (and advocate) adamantly for the political rights of gay people to marry. I believe the essence of religious conviction is that we must do what is right, not what is popular. As I have come to understand, there are five important reasons that my identity and values as an Orthodox rabbi compel me to support same-sex civil marriage.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuly-yanklowitz/orthodox-rabbi-gay-marriage_b_4452154.html?ir=Religion

[Gothmog]

1. As a Jew, I really like the analysis from this Rabbi

I am in a Reformed Congregation and so this is not an issue but I did like see an Orthodox Rabbi express these views

[King_David]

2. Yes

I have been to a few Gay weddings in both Conservative and Reform shuls... Orthodox is next I guess and then the Hassidics..

[Gothmog]

3. This is an interesting site that I use from time to time

Judaism 101 is a nice site with some good information. This analysis on homosexuality is interesting http://www.jewfaq.org/sex.htm#Homosexuality

I have seen some modern Orthodox sources suggest that if homosexuality is truly something hardwired in the brain, as most gay activists suggest, then a man who acts upon that desire is not morally responsible for his actions, but I am not sure how wide-spread that opinion is. In any case, it is not quite as liberal a position as some would have you believe: essentially, it is equivalent to saying that a kleptomaniac would not be held morally responsible for stealing.

I personally do not believe that sexual orientation is a matter of choice and I am glad that some Orthodox sources are coming around to this view.