Thread by @RabbiHarvey

Official Statement by the Indiana Board of Rabbis Opposing SB480 and HB1608 #thread

The Indiana General Assembly is presently considering Senate Bill 480, which would make it illegal for physicians or other practitioner from: (1) knowingly providing gender transition…/1

…procedures to an individual who is younger than 18 years of age (minor); and (2) aiding or abetting another physician or practitioner in the provision of gender transition procedures to a minor. We, the undersigned members of The Indiana Board of Rabbis (IBOR) affirm…/2

our sacred Jewish tradition that sees parents as God's partners the creation of each human being. At the same time, we uphold our longstanding tradition that the practice of medicine is a mitzvah, a holy commandment. We would categorically oppose imposing civil or criminal…/3

…penalties for properly providing health care according to the standards of the medical, nursing and allied health care professions.

Torah teaches that human beings are created in the Divine Image (Gen 1:27-28). The meaning and condition of each person’s creation…/4

…including their gender identity, is revealed over time through their lived experience and cannot be limited to a set of objective criteria that is evaluated solely by others. The identity of transgender people is authentic and God-given. To deny their gender identity…/5

…is therefore discriminatory and immoral.

The Jewish principle of pikuach nefesh, the obligation to save human life, requires us to oppose this legislation. Denying one’s identity is a threat to their health and wellbeing. The American Academy of Pediatrics…/6

…has published research finding alarming levels of attempted suicide among transgender youth. This bill presents a clear danger to transgender youth.

House Bill 1608 legislates what teachers can teach about sexuality and forbids them from answering questions from…/7

…students, as well as disallows school staff from using names or pronouns different from the student’s assigned sex at birth without notifying a parent first. As with SB480, we affirm the sanctity of the parent-child relationship. While we uphold the rights of parents…/8

… to individually determine their child’s participation in Health & Wellness education offered in schools, we do not believe that one parent has the right to determine how another child is to be educated. And to deny an answer to a child’s question is anathema…/9

…to Jewish teaching. Our sages said, “Make for yourself a teacher; acquire for yourself a friend; and judge every person on the positive side.” Teaching is a sacred act, and learning is the key to human wholeness.

SB480 imposes the will of the state on parents…/10

creates indignity against transgender youth, and sets up conditions that threaten their very lives. HB 1608 restricts the rights of parents to decide what’s best for their children and criminalizes teachers. /11

For these reasons, the undersigned members of the Indiana Board of Rabbis oppose this bill and urge every elected member of the Indiana General Assembly to vote against this proposed legislation.
#indiana #sb480 #hb1608 #translivesmatter @INDprogressives @ACLUIndiana