Q&A: LGBT People
LGBT People
Question
- I understood that the Rabbi supports equal rights for LGBT people, and I wanted to ask whether participating in demonstrations for that cause (which I also understood the Rabbi supports in principle) does not also carry a general message that contradicts the Torah—that is, does the Rabbi understand that when the Torah forbids same-sex relations, it means to instruct us that only a heterosexual family is appropriate? And would there also be a problem with a same-sex couple adopting a child, even if they are not violating any Torah laws? If the answer is yes, then doesn’t the struggle for equal rights for the LGBT community—which in effect says that such a family is like any other—not contradict the Torah’s guidance as we understand it? And if so, doesn’t that imply that a person committed to the will of God (as best as he understands it) cannot take part in such a demonstration?
- According to the Rabbi’s approach (as I understand it), that commandments and transgressions do not apply to secular people who do not accept the halakhic system, is there any problem at all with giving blanket support to LGBT marriage even though they are committing transgressions? (Because in effect, they are not committing any transgression?)
- Thank you 🙂
Answer
- I’m not sure one can derive a family structure from the Torah. It is clear that homosexual relations are forbidden, and therefore a family of that sort is also forbidden. But as for the question of what the ideal family is—that is a separate question. It is theoretically possible that, were it not for the prohibition, there would be no problem with such a family. You assume that the prohibition is rooted in preventing this kind of family structure, but that is not necessary. The logical order may be the reverse.
Beyond that, one must distinguish between the values of Jewish law and democratic and moral values. I think such a family is problematic on the halakhic level (because of the prohibition), and at the same time I think the state should not interfere in people’s lives, coerce them, or discriminate against them on the basis of a halakhic prohibition or any other basis. That is a democratic-moral value that I believe in no less. From my perspective, that too is the will of God (as morality in general is).
By the way, even in Jewish law there are prohibitions whose product may nevertheless be used or benefited from (such as mixed species). Jewish law is sometimes prepared to live with the products of forbidden acts.
2. The fact that they are not committing a transgression personally does not mean that I am allowed, or that it is proper for me, to support them. Just as if I were to feed them a forbidden item directly, I would probably be transgressing even if they are not. Beyond that, there are also religious homosexuals who do transgress, because they believe it is forbidden but find it difficult, etc.
3. You’re welcome.