Los Angeles 2010: Current registration prices extended to July 15! Register today!
Los Angeles 2010! Registration is now open for the 20th World Conference of GLBT Jews
Aug. 13 - 15, 2010, in sunny Los Angeles, California.
Conference registration is ongoing at the www.la2010.org website, and is currently $275 for students and members of all our member organizations. This special price has been extended until July 15, 2010. Register today! For those who have already registered, but have not yet paid, please do so as soon as possible. Don’t forget to join us on Facebook for ongoing news, social networking, and updates.
Register now at www.la2010.org
Excitement is building for Los Angeles 2010 - the 20th World Conference of GLBT Jews coming to Los Angeles in the summer. Registrations are coming in from around the United States and internationally. The weekend of Aug 13 - 15, 2010, will see the Hillel at UCLA transformed into a beehive of activity as queer Jews from everywhere gather to study, renew friendships, and celebrate a major milestone with the World Congress of GLBT Jews.
The conference committee is hard at work planning a fun-filled weekend, starting with Shabbat services Friday evening led by the clergy from host organization Beth Chayim Chadashim, Rabbi Lisa Edwards and Cantor Juval Porat. Cantor Porat, recently featured in an article in the Huffington Post, was the first cantor to be ordained in Germany since World War II. A gifted tenor, Cantor Porat will welcome visitors to a warm celebration of Shabbat.
A delicious Shabbat dinner will follow, culminating with a keynote address by Elissa Barrett of the Progressive Jewish Alliance. Ms. Barrett’s address will be a call to action for community involvement. We look forward to her words of wisdom.
Saturday morning will feature multiple options for Shabbat services, to provide a rich worshipful and spiritual experience.
After Shabbat services, the conference will feature a variety of fascinating seminar sessions, with five time slots spread out over the remainder of Saturday and Sunday morning, and at least five seminar offerings per session. Some of our featured seminar leaders are as follows: Former World Congress president Michael Levine, Rabbi Jocee Hudson of Temple Israel of Hollywood, Nehirim’s Zvi Bellin, Naomi Goldberg of the Williams Institute, California Faith for Equality’s Kerry Chaplin, Dr. Joel Kushner of the Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation, first openly gay rabbi in the Conservative movement Rabbi J. B. Sacks, writers Andrew Ramer and Maggie Anton, Rabbi Carla Howard, Prof. Richard Lippa of California State University Fullerton, film producer Howard Rosenman, photographer Albert J. Winn , and others too numerous to mention!
Here are a few program highlights:
Reclaiming Torah: A Lesson in Modern Day Tikkunim.
Spiritual Play
Mapping the American LGBT Community: Diversity, Geography and the Law
How to Engage Diverse Faith Communities in Policy Change
GLBT inclusion in Jewish institutions.
Kweer Words-Writing New Liturgy and Telling Sacred Stories
Being Part of a Club That Will Not Have me as a member
Telling Our Stories, Healing our Wounds, Finding Our Souls
How Do I Advocate For My Kids in the Mainstream World?
Improvisation workshop
What LGBT Jews need from LGBT and Jewish Communities as We are Aging
Persecution and Refugees: What the International LGBT Community Must Learn from the Jewish Experience.
Playing the Game: Men who loved Men in the Middle Ages
Be Fruitful and Multiply: Sperm Donors, Surrogates, and what you need to Know about making Mishpocha
Building Bridges with Israel
Ruthie and Connie: Every Room In the House
Gay Revolt At Denver City Council --- And The Beginnings Of An Organized Gay Community
Same gender marriage: Issues of Jewish Law and Justice/Jews for Marriage Equality in the Fight Against Prop. 8
The Science of Sexual Orientation
Getting Our History Out of the Closet
The next generation of young Jewish lesbians in LA
Saturday lunch will feature lesbian comedian and activist Robin Tyler, taking a break from preparing for her one-woman show, Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Groom.
Saturday night’s gala dinner will feature the presentation of the second World Congress leadership award to California State Senator Mark Leno, in recognition of his efforts in the area of same sex marriage. Registrants will be in for a treat as Bay area comedian Lisa Geduldig performs, with musical interludes from the community klezmer band Gay Gezunt and the BCC choir.
Sunday’s schedule includes more seminars and a fabulous closing brunch, folowed by an optional bus tour of the queer history of Los Angeles, with a surprise stop.
California State Senator Mark Leno, World Congress Leadership Award Recipient
The conference committee for LA2010 is pleased to announce that we will be honoring California State Senator Mark Leno with the second World Congress Leadership Award for his long career advocating GLBT rights and inclusion. Senator Leno’s path to public service included two years of rabbinic training at Hebrew Union College, which gives him a unique perspective on the role of gays and lesbians in the Jewish and larger world. His work in Sacramento on issues of social justice is evidently influenced by his Judaic values, and it is this contribution that the World Congress of GLBT Jews wants to recognize. Senator Leno’s support of public education, accessible post-secondary education, environmental and energy issues, and quality affordable healthcare, along with his leadership on same-gender marriage make him a fine candidate for this esteemed award. Senator Leno will accept the World Congress Leadership Award at the gala dinner on Saturday night, August 14, at LA2010, the 20th World Conference of GLBT Jews, which is to take place on the UCLA campus from August 13-15, 2010. Los Angeles 2010 keynote speaker, Elissa Barrett.
Presenting the keynote address at the Friday night dinner will be Elissa Barrett, Executive Director of the Progressive Jewish Alliance. Ms. Barrett’s melding of social justice work, and a commitment to both the LGBT community and the Jewish community make her a perfect choice for keynote speaker, and we look forward to her inspirational words. Ms. Barrett has become a beacon of tikkun olam, and has spoken out on many issues around the world - from international human rights to local fair housing to LGBT rights in California. She has brought the Progressive Jewish Alliance into the California fight for marriage equality, including the PJA-sponsored Tu B’Av Summer Love In. For all these reasons, Elissa Barrett will be a terrific keynote speaker. World Congress of GLBT Jews Annual Board Meeting
The World Congress of GLBT Jews annual Board Meeting will be held in Los Angeles and West Hollywood immediately preceding our World Conference on Thursday, August 12th and Friday, August 13th. Official agenda and information packet will be out soon but expect the Board Meeting to run roughly 9-5 Thursday and 9-3 Friday.
A board reception is planned on Wed Aug 11, 7 - 9 pm at BCC. For any information about sending a delegate please contact coordinator@glabtjews.org
The World Congress of GLBT Jews: Keshet Ga’avah