Hod.org is the self-proclaimed “first independent site for religious homosexual Jews,” and they are setting out to make a change in their community.
As it stands, any gay members of the Haredi ultra-orthodox community are forced to undergo conversion treatments. Hod is seeking to put a stop to this outdated, pointless, and potentially dangerous treatment by posting signs on objects through the city:
The sign, attached to a bike reads:
Car.
No, I am not a car. I am a bicycle.
I didn’t choose to be a bicycle,
and no conversion treatment will change me.
Please love us as we are!
There are plenty of others, as well:
Check out their campaign video:
While I hope that their campaign triggers a change of heart, I have a hard time being optimistic. It seems like the more conservative forms of Orthodox Judaism aren’t exactly welcoming to change.
I am, however, curious where these signs are, exactly. Their website isn’t very user-friendly, but I assume that because some of the signs are in English, they are in the U.S. or U.K. as well as Israel.
That being said, I think that this a really cool campaign — the concept, to me, is extremely striking. The “Please love us as we are” concept could really be applicable to any number of discriminated-against groups.
