Regarding Pride Month: I don’t think we need a month to celebrate sexuality as a culture. However, we do need to continuously affirm that God loves everyone. You are not a “wrong” or bad person if your adult, consensual sexuality doesn’t conform to a heterosexual norm.
My perspective on inclusion is deeply rooted in a nuanced understanding of Jewish law. I am not a rabbi.
- While some interpret the Torah’s prohibitions on homosexuality without nuance, the text—written in the male form—specifically addresses the context of its time, such as ancient cults. It prohibits lying with a man as with a woman.
- The Torah also prohibits promiscuity of any kind, and that includes the heterosexual version.
- Jewish law favors marriage.
- It is important to note that Jewish law has a long history of acknowledging and managing the complexities of sexually ambiguous and non-binary individuals.
That said, as a civil society which Constitutionally separates religion and state, I believe we must make a deliberate effort to create a culture where sexuality is not religiously regulated.
As human beings living together, I believe non-binary and diverse sexualities should be visible in adult culture. While sexuality studies don’t belong in K-12, education, adult identities should be protected from condemnation or erasure.
Art often paves the way for these necessary cultural shifts, offering mirrors for our own experiences and windows into the lives of others.
A pioneer in opening conversations about fluid identities and kindness, Dan Levy’s work reflects the idea that you cannot be “wrong” for loving another consenting adult.
In Schitt’s Creek, his “it’s the wine, not the bottle” analogy beautifully articulated pansexuality, while his new work in Big Mistakes explores how rigid religious structures can sometimes cloud the purity of God’s universal love.
Meanwhile, the new show DTF St. Louis explore the deep loneliness and emotional isolation of heterosexual men in midlife.
Whether it is men struggling to connect sexually or non-sexually, these are powerful, legitimate human experiences that deserve our empathy.
It is plain to see that the LGBTQ community continues to be discriminated against and their identities frequently erased by forcing them into a binary trap or silence.
By fostering a culture of empathy and moving beyond rigid labels, we ensure that no one—regardless of their gender identity or orientation—is left to feel invisible.
Written with the help of AI. AI image.
Writing by Dr. Dannielle Blumenthal 
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