Sojourn: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity

Sojourn: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity Born & raised at the intersection of LGBTQ+, Jewish, and Southern communities, SOJOURN is the premier resource for education, outreach, and advocacy.

The Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity (SOJOURN) promotes increased understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of individuals across the entire spectrum of gender and sexual orientation in the Southeast through education, outreach, and advocacy, inspired by Jewish and universal ethics and ideals.

For today's tidbit of Q***r Judaism, we wanted to share a segment of "A Blessing Before a D**e March" by Anastasia bat L...
08/25/2026

For today's tidbit of Q***r Judaism, we wanted to share a segment of "A Blessing Before a D**e March" by Anastasia bat Lilith, accessed via Open Siddur Project.

This poem / blessing was written for the 2026 Pittsburgh D**e March, and ends with a Hebrew blessing for Le***an Pride written by Rabbi Robin Podolsky and published in "Mishkan Ga’avah Where Pride Dwells."

"We march for solidarity, to pray with our feet, and put commitments to action.
We march for our ancestors, finding joy in the world they bled for.
We march not merely as friends, but lovers.
Where do we belong, love?
WE BELONG TO THE FUTURE!
בְּרוּכָה אַתְ יָהּ
אוֹהֶבֶת הָעוֹלָם
הַלֵב הַפּוֹעֵם שֶׁל כֹּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת
בּוֹרֵאת צְחוֹקָן שֶׁל כַּלּוֹת
וּשְׂשׂוֹנָן שֶׁל שֻׁתָפוֹת לְמַאֲבָק
Blessed are You, Yah,
Lover of the universe,
Heartbeat of the worlds,
who has made the laughter of brides
and the joy of comrades.

You can read the full text of the prayer here: https://opensiddur.org/prayers/collective-welfare/shalom/blessing-before-a-dyke-march-by-anastasia-bat-lilith/

Image description: A graphic with a photo background of people marching in the street; the two people closest to the camera have a rainbow Pride flag and a le***an Pride flag draped across their shoulders. The prayer in the caption is typed over the photo in black text with alternating orange and pink highlights.

Every year, SOJOURN coordinates the Jewish community’s presence in Atlanta Pride. This year’s festivities are scheduled ...
08/24/2026

Every year, SOJOURN coordinates the Jewish community’s presence in Atlanta Pride. This year’s festivities are scheduled for October 9-11, and we’re thrilled to return to a full weekend of Jewish and LGBTQ+ connection and excitement!

Atlanta Pride weekend with SOJOURN will include:
-Atlanta-wide Interfaith Pride Shabbat Friday, October 9, where you can join us for a joyful and supportive Shabbat evening service, alongside interfaith partners, to ground us before a busy Pride weekend.
-Our Jewish community booth at the Atlanta Pride Festival, Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11
-Marching with the Jewish Community in the Atlanta Pride Parade, Sunday, October 11

Visit www.sojourngsd.org/atlanta-pride-2026 for more info on how your Jewish community can participate!

Shabbat Shalom, SOJOURN community! Let your light shine bright! (Photo of The Read Twinz from our Lighting the Way fundr...
08/21/2026

Shabbat Shalom, SOJOURN community! Let your light shine bright!

(Photo of The Read Twinz from our Lighting the Way fundraising event this past weekend! You can donate to the campaign at https://givebutter.com/c/LTWAC26.)

It's , a series where we explore the intersections of Jewish and LGBTQ+ history - and it's also Transgender History Mon...
08/21/2026

It's , a series where we explore the intersections of Jewish and LGBTQ+ history - and it's also Transgender History Month! Started in 2023 in San Francisco, Transgender History Month uses the month of August to honor the rich history and contributions of transgender historymakers, pioneers, trailblazers and affirms the ongoing presence of transgender people.

Today, we're highlighting iconic trans Jewish activist, writer, playwright, actor, performance artist, and visual artist Kate Bornstein, who started identifying as gender non-conforming in 1986.

She self-identifies as a "gender outlaw", which is also the title of their first book, published in 1994.

In 2019, Kate wrote, "I’m proud to be a loving auntie and granny to thousands of nonbinary people around the world. That’s a whole lot of nothing going on, and it makes me positively giddy to think what that might mean for the future."

Today, August 20, is Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. was founded by Southern AIDS Coalition in 2019 to bring attentio...
08/20/2026

Today, August 20, is Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. was founded by Southern AIDS Coalition in 2019 to bring attention to the disproportionate impact of HIV on Southern states. Ending the criminalization of HIV and advocating for adequate healthcare infrastructure in the South is an issue of racial justice, LGBTQ+ justice, and is in line with our Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and b'tzelem elohim (each individual is made in the image of the Divine).

Image descriptions: Image 1 is a graphic that reads "Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" in navy blue and red text, underneath a map of the Southern states with a swooping red ribbon over them. Images 2 and 3 have a photo of a red ribbon as the background, and contain black text. The text on image 2 reads, "'The historical context of healthcare systems and redlining in Black communities drive the HIV epidemic in the South....We need better jobs, better access, and more funding in communities that are disproportionately impacted – not just in the large cities, but also in rural towns.' -Mardrequs Harris, Southern AIDS Coalition." The text on image 3 reads, "'Together, students and parents learned about the Jewish values of saving a life (and sometimes you have to save your own life); of all Jews being responsible for each other, often known as “I am my brother’s keeper”; of visiting the sick without concern for the cause of their sickness; and the idea that all human beings are created in the image of the Holy One and are therefore equally sacred, combatting stigma head-on.' -Gail Broder, “Connecting My Faith and HIV/AIDS."

This weekend, some incredible friends of SOJOURN hosted a Gathering for Good fundraiser at the Old Smyrna Firehouse in s...
08/20/2026

This weekend, some incredible friends of SOJOURN hosted a Gathering for Good fundraiser at the Old Smyrna Firehouse in support of our Lighting the Way Annual Giving Campaign! It was an evening full of good company in a beautiful space curated by Shane Garner, fantastic food by Andrew Xtro Featherstone, fiery entertainment from The Read Twinz, and most of all, support for SOJOURN's work! Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this evening of light and love happen!

You are invited to join SOJOURN for a virtual candle lighting in support of our Lighting the Way Annual Campaign on Sund...
08/19/2026

You are invited to join SOJOURN for a virtual candle lighting in support of our Lighting the Way Annual Campaign on Sunday, August 30, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. ET.

At this brief and meaningful virtual event, we will recognize the challenges that we currently face, highlight the ways that SOJOURN is addressing the needs of the community, share some special announcements, and invite you to get involved!

Together, we'll light candles across our communities as a visible reminder that even small lights become brighter when we shine together.

Register at bit.ly/SOJOURNCandleLighting!

Let's talk about the new Medicaid/CHIP rules around gender-affirming health care for trans youth.On August 11, the Trump...
08/18/2026

Let's talk about the new Medicaid/CHIP rules around gender-affirming health care for trans youth.

On August 11, the Trump administration published a final rule prohibiting federal Medicaid funds from being used to provide medically necessary care to transgender youth under age 18, and federal CHIP funds from being used to provide such care to transgender youth under age 19. The rule will go into effect on October 13, 2026.

The rule prohibits the use of federal Medicaid and CHIP funds to cover puberty-pausing medications, hormone therapy, or surgeries; includes a 6-month “tapering” period for transgender youth patients currently receiving hormone therapy through Medicaid or CHIP; and allows states to still fund HRT and puberty blockers for youth out of their own public funds. The rule does NOT ban trans youth care overall; make it illegal or improper for doctors and providers to prescribe care; impact primary care, mental health care, labs or other collateral services; or require hospitals to cease transgender youth care in order to participate in Medicaid and Medicare overall; or affect private health insurance or the ability to pay out of pocket.

Our Jewish tradition commands us to uphold pikuach nefesh, the principle that saving a life overrides virtually every other religious obligation. Every major American medical and mental health association recognizes youth gender-affirming health care as life-saving, evidence-based, and medically necessary.

Urge your state legislature and governor's office to fund health care for transgender youth with state-only public funds. State agencies typically have to give notice before they formally change their Medicaid state plans. Keep up with state rulemaking processes and submit public comments when the time comes!

For updates on this rule, legal challenges, and more, visit GLAD Law (GLADLaw.org) or NCLR (NCLRights.org)

Every year, SOJOURN coordinates the Jewish community’s presence in the parade and at the Pride Festival in Piedmont Park...
08/18/2026

Every year, SOJOURN coordinates the Jewish community’s presence in the parade and at the Pride Festival in Piedmont Park. This year’s festivities are scheduled for October 9-11, and we’re thrilled to return to a full weekend of Jewish and LGBTQ+ connection and excitement!

Atlanta Pride weekend with SOJOURN will include:
-Atlanta-wide Interfaith Pride Shabbat Friday, October 9, where you can join us for a joyful and supportive Shabbat evening service, alongside interfaith partners, to ground us before a busy Pride weekend.
-Our Jewish community booth at the Atlanta Pride Festival, Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11
-Marching with the Jewish Community in the Atlanta Pride Parade, Sunday, October 11

Visit www.sojourngsd.org/atlanta-pride-2026 for more info on how your Jewish community can participate!

Today, August 17, is National Nonprofit Day! We wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to the amazing nonprofi...
08/17/2026

Today, August 17, is National Nonprofit Day!

We wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to the amazing nonprofit organizations across the South and the country that we have the honor of working alongside. We couldn't do the work we do without the partnerships and resources that our amazing nonprofit community provides! These photos represent a few - definitely not all - of the nonprofit organizations that we're grateful to work with.

Happy !

Address

1530 Dekalb Avenue, Suite A
Atlanta, GA
30307

Telephone

+14042754637

Website

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