Supporting transgender youth: the importance of Jewish perspectives
This post was written by NCJW Spring 2026 Engagement and Leadership Intern Elana Spector.
On just my second day of my internship with National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), I found myself standing in front of the US Supreme Court, holding a stack of 20+ NCJW signs. It was the day of the oral argument for two cases under review by the Court that challenge state laws prohibiting trans youth from participating in women’s sports in school, West Virginia v. BPJ and Little v. Hecox. I was surrounded by NCJW staff and community members, many of whom I had just met, who showed up for a rally to support the rights of trans people to be able to compete in sports according to their gender identity.
Currently, 27 states ban transgender youth from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity at school. These bans can be extremely detrimental to the mental health of young trans people who are trying to find community, support networks, and express themselves through the activities they love to do. The decision from the Supreme Court (which will be handed down sometime this summer) will directly influence the future of these laws and the future of the accessibility of school sports for young trans people.
As faith is so often weaponized to harm the LGBTQ+ community, the perspective of NCJW and the other Jewish advocacy organizations in this fight is important to combat harmful narratives equating religious values with LGBTQ+ discrimination and hate. And as a trans person, participating in the rally with NCJW was incredibly powerful. It not only established that NCJW was a place where I would be fully supported and celebrated in my trans identity, but demonstrated that the organization was committed to taking real action addressing discrimination against trans people and fighting for the autonomy and safety of trans people all over the country.
The work that NCJW does to support transgender youth is crucial as the current administration is trying to bar access to gender affirming care for trans youth. In response to these deeply concerning efforts, NCJW’s Jewish Abortion Access Coalition (JAAC) and Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth, led by Keshet and SOJOURN, submitted a public comment articulating our opposition. The comment is signed by nearly 80 Jewish organizations and synagogues, including many NCJW sections. We are proud to take a stand on this issue and to advocate for the rights of young trans people and support their access to critical medical care.
Judaism can and should be used to ground transgender advocacy. The signs that I held in front of the Supreme Court stated: “B’tzelem Elohim: We are all created in God’s image” and “God loves trans kids.” Judaism teaches us that all people are holy and should be treated with respect as we are all created in the image of the divine. Judaism doesn’t just support trans people — Jewish values are at the very foundation of our activism for trans youth. NCJW is building crucial faith coalitions that will deeply impact current trans advocacy and its future success and I am honored to be a part of building a better future for transgender youth.
Click here to join NCJW and advocates across the country to recommit ourselves to the shared work of fighting for bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom.