Gay, Jewish film series links struggles of communities

Members of the Jewish and gay communities explored the history and hardships of both groups at the second installment of Queerly Jewish.

The event, a gay and Jewish film series, was co-sponsored by Hillel at LSU and Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians, Supporters United.

An ordinarily quiet Coates Hall classroom became a personalized stadium-seat theater Thursday night when Aharon Varady, Hillel at LSU interim program coordinator, played "Trembling Before G-d" on a projector to kick off a night of documentary and discussion.

Varady, 33, said he and a few others organized the series earlier this semester in hopes that gay and Jewish students could realize their similar experiences with oppression.

"Gays and Jews can learn a lot from each others' experience," Varady said Monday in an e-mail. "And we also need to make sure that our gay and lesbian Jewish brothers and sisters know they are loved and welcome in our family."

But the gay people chronicled in the documentary were Orthodox Jews, and the sect strictly forbids homosexuality. The men and women reflected on their struggles with acceptance from their parents and Jewish peers that sometimes involved disownment.Gay, Jewish film series links struggles of communities
LSU The Reveille, LA