The Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA) supports equal access to marriage for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.

As a people who have long known the sting of marginalization and inferior citizenship, and because our tradition demands that we "do that which is upright and good," we oppose any efforts to discriminate against gay men and lesbians, whether by constitutional amendment or by the creation of second-class civil unions.

PJA joins other Jewish organizations, such as the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and the Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring in applauding the decisions of elected officials and judges in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and elsewhere upholding equal rights as consistent with our Jewish commitment to the fundamental principle that we are all created in the divine image.

Jewish legal tradition is grounded in the principle of mishpat ehat yihe'eh lachem - the notion that the law should be applied equally to all, citizen and stranger alike.  (Lev. 24:22; Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Ketuboth 33a.).  We recognize and grieve the injustice perpetrated against gay men and lesbians - our members, family and friends among them - who are relegated to second-class citizenship when denied access to marriage, a fundamental institution of our society. Those who would stigmatize or criminalize gay and lesbian marriage are the heirs of those who once fought against the legalization of interracial marriage in this country.  

PJA stands with the United States Supreme Court, which has determined that the "freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men [and women]" and that marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man, fundamental to our very existence and survival." Loving v. Virginia, 388 US 1 (1967).

We recognize that Jewish thought is not uniform on the appropriateness of recognizing "same-sex" marriage.  However, we stand with the Reform and Reconstructionist movements, which sanction and perform marriage regardless of sexual orientation or gender, and we support those in the Conservative and Orthodox movements who would follow suit.  

We embrace the basic Jewish principle that "the dignity of human beings is a great thing" (Shabbat 94b) and believe that, while we may not all express our sexuality in the same manner, we are all created in God's image. "[T]he creation of only one man exhibits the power of God, who, by means of only one 'mold' produces an infinite variety of types." (Sanhedrin, 4:5.) In Conservative Judaism (39:33, 1987, pp. 30-32), Herschel Matt agrees, stating that "[H]omosexuality, contrary to assumptions that have been widely accepted from biblical times to our very own day, involves not merely a single, overt act or a series of such acts, but usually reflects a profound inner condition and basic psychic orientation, involving the deepest levels of personhood."

We agree and we stand with the United States Supreme Court, which, while not yet having addressed "same-sex" marriage, has determined that "[l]iberty presumes an autonomy of self that includes freedom of thought, belief, expression, and certain intimate conduct" and that gay men and lesbians should have the "liberty protected by the Constitution" to make the choice to enter into personal relationships in furtherance of "their dignity as free persons." Lawrence v. Texas, U.S. 123 S.Ct. 2472 (2003).  

As our rabbis teach us, "a person should get a companion, to eat with, to drink with, to study Torah with, to study Mishnah with, to sleep with, to confide all one's secrets, secrets of Torah and secrets of worldly things." (Avot D'Rabbi Natan 8.) As God said to the people Israel, "I will espouse you forever. I will espouse you with righteousness and justice and lovingkindness and compassion." (Hos. 2:21-22.)

PJA supports with righteousness, justice, lovingkindness and compassion the right of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, to have full and equal access to the civil institution of marriage. And we stand proudly with those in the wider Jewish community who embrace the Torah that our changing culture reveals to us, and who therefore recognize, perform and celebrate gay and lesbian marriage.