Many of our members are not yet out of the closet, and we understand the importance of maintaining anonymity and privacy. You do not need to disclose your identity in order to join our mailing list. To join, fill out this form, and one of our licensed mental health professionals will look over the information you’ve provided to ensure that JQY is the right space for you. This process also allows us to provide support for you in the way that you need it most

We understand that many individuals may not feel ready to join JQY’s programming. Fortunately, there are other ways of connecting with us. Fill out this form to get in touch with someone directly. You do not have to go through this alone!

Visit the Contact page to join our newsletter,  email listserv, find out about events, and more.

JQY is an organization that provides community and support to individuals from religious backgrounds, but is not a religious organization. We advocate on behalf of LGBTQ individuals who come from Orthodox families, are currently Orthodox, or have strong ties to traditional religious Judaism. Our religious-based events are intended to be welcoming to individuals of all denominations. At JQY, we believe that your level of observance is your personal decision, and none of our members are expected to be at any specific level of religious observance.

We firmly believe in meeting each individual person where they are. We create spaces for individuals who share the common identities of being LGBTQ and Jewish. Our members have many different views on LGBTQ issues and religion, and all are welcome to share their perspectives and experiences with the group and staff. We do not promote a way of life or belief system. We support our member’s self-determination, and provide them with support while they explore their own identities, own beliefs, and make life decisions.

JQY is open to all LGBTQ Jewish youth. While there are JQY programs for all ages, our support programming is focused on those ages 13-30. Aside from this, we require nothing of our members. There are no obligations or dues necessary in order to become a JQY community member. All you have to do is sign up for our email list, or attend an event. 

Although we cannot answer that question for you, you are welcome to join our discussion list, and attend our meetings and events in order to explore this further. There is much to learn from the experiences of other JQY members.

As a mental health organization, JQY follows the standards of the major mental health organizations of mental health practitioners. All of these organizations, including the National Association of Social Work, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Mental Health Counselors Association reject efforts to change a person's sexual orientation and/or gender identity, often referred to as “reparative” or “conversion” therapy. Scientific research has consistently found these practices to be both ineffective and harmful.

There are many ways in which you can contribute to and get involved with the JQY community! Click here to find out the ways in which you can show your support. We also have many programs open to people of all ages and backgrounds. Sign up for our newsletter, or visit our events calendar to find out about our upcoming events. Anyone is welcome to email us at info@jqyouth.org with any questions.

It is true that the word "queer" was once used as an offensive epithet. However, the term has since been positively reclaimed by young people and academia. There are multiple definitions of Queer, but JQY uses the word as an umbrella term to include the full spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities outside of cis-gender heterosexuality.

No. JQY is a 501c3 non-profit organization run by licensed mental health professionals with expertise in LGBTQ issues and a deep understanding of Orthodox Judaism. We believe it is important to create a space where people from similar backgrounds with similar understanding can meet and connect with one another.

Our board includes clinicians, leaders, and advocates dedicated to creating a space for Jewish queer youth to joyfully be their whole selves. We are always looking for experts interested in bringing their knowledge and passion to our board. You can see the full list of our current board members here.

Since JQY began in 2001, we have provided tens of thousands of youth with a place to belong, where they can receive the social, mental, and emotional support they need to live healthy, joyful lives. And we have reached millions of people through our specialized Jewish queer content online.

We don’t know exactly how many Jewish queer youth there are in the United States, but we do know that research shows that anywhere from 10 to 25% of people in our country are LGBTQ – whether they are out or not. The Jewish community is no different. We estimate that at least 10% of Orthodox youth are queer – at least one in every minyan. Each one of those individuals is a person who deserves to live joyfully and authentically as their whole selves and to celebrate and be celebrated for who they are.

While JQY is headquartered in New York City, we work with youth across the country and around the globe. There are plenty of ways to reach out, even if you’re not local, including accessing support through our app or our website. To speak with one of our licensed mental health professionals, call our Warmline at 551-JQY-HOPE (551-579-4673).

The best way to learn about and access our resources is by checking out our website or our app. Our website includes an event calendar with information about upcoming events, and pages to access virtual support, our cross-campus network for LGBTQ Jewish college students, our Gap Year Support program, educational programming and trainings, and so much more.

We welcome all youth at JQY. We don’t verify anyone’s Jewishness at the door. That said, many of our programs are specifically tailored for at-risk queer Jewish teens and young adults, who are predominately from historically non-accepting communities. They have a unique set of needs and experiences, requiring care providers and a support network, like they can find through JQY, that understands their backgrounds and culture.

We welcome all youth at JQY. We don’t verify anyone’s queerness at the door. There is much to learn from each other, and there’s no ‘typical’ JQY member. However, our space and many of our programs are specifically tailored for at-risk queer Jewish teens and young adults, who are predominately from historically non-accepting communities.

While JQY’s programs are focused on serving youth and young adults aged 13-23, our goal is to foster a lifelong community in which participants find support in living healthy, joyful lives, even after they’ve graduated from our programs.

There are many ways to get involved with JQY. Access our volunteer interest form and consider making a contribution to help us provide emotional and mental health services and support for Jewish youth.

JQY enables Jewish queer teens and young adults understand that they don’t have to choose between their queerness and their Jewish values and heritage. For many JQYers, that means reconnecting with their Orthodoxy. Others find new ways to understand their Jewish identity. Jewish culture and tradition is interwoven into everything we do. We offer holiday programs and help JQYers – current and past – celebrate Jewish milestones. We work hard to make sure JQY is inclusive and accessible to everyone, including always offering kosher food and not scheduling events on Shabbat.

We tell youth it’s okay to be themselves. We offer them a safe space where they can belong as their full authentic selves, inclusive of every facet of their identity. Queer youth deserve to feel safe, welcomed and celebrated in Jewish spaces, and Jewish spaces are richer and stronger when they fully include queer youth.

The choice to engage in social, medical, or surgical transition is a very personal one and, depending on several factors, can be one with significant consequences. We don’t encourage or discourage youth to engage in these processes. Our goal at JQY is to be both non-judgemental, supportive, and empowering while also promoting responsible and thoughtful decision-making.

We affirm the ability of youth to define and articulate who they are, so we refer to them as they asked to be called and with the pronouns they wish to use. Identity exploration is a part of teenage and young adulthood. We offer them a safe and nonjudgemental environment in which to learn more about their multifaceted identities and whole selves.

JQY does not take political stances. However, we do denounce language and actions that undermines the ability of teens and young adults to survive and thrive, because it is potentially life threatening. Our goal is to create spaces for individuals who share the common identities of being LGBTQ and Jewish. Our members have many different views on LGBTQ issues and religion, and all are welcome to share their perspectives and experiences with the group and staff.

Coming out is a way for queer people to tell others something about themselves – something that is important and a core part of who they are. When someone comes out to you, you can be grateful and consider this a compliment that they confided in you and shared a piece of themselves.

It’s also important when discussing why people come out to talk about the assumptions we make about each other. People who are not queer often do not have to come out as their identity is the assumed default. However, if someone made an incorrect assumption about you, you’d likely want to correct them. Coming out allows people to ensure that they are not assumed to be someone they’re not.