Thank you for all the positive comments here, I don't think I have what to comment on the negative ones. These are our life experiences and I am honored to be able to share them with the world to help others who were in the same situation as myself as well as many others. -Chaim Levin
This video is needed not only for jews, but gays in general. I am a Christian, but I've realized that all religious homosexuals have these issues; you all are very brave and sweet for posting this video. Thank You
2:45 I held it together until that point. And then I burst out crying, because wow. What a compassionate lovely woman that aunt is. "I promise you that there will come a time when you'll feel like you're wanted in this world."
Omg, these men are amazing with their stories, their honesty, and their acceptance of their gayness. They're speaking their truth & their hopes, kudos 👏 to them.
I love you all so much. I am gay, Jewish and very happy that I have accepted myself as being made in the image and likeness of hashem, yisborakh. Don't let ignorant, hateful people get you down. You have lots of friends in this world. We are here; reach out to us. Go to a gay, Jewish group or even just e mail one. Reach out. Do not suffer in silence and alone.
I’m so glad you guys did this video!!! I was raised secular, became frum, then left it. During the time I was frum I sensed there were gay people in the frum community and wondered how they were going to live…. I still wonder and worry that the gay orthodox people might be accepted but are told not to act on it. So they have to spend their lives alone and have no sexual outlet and have no way to build a family…?? I really hope that’s not the case…
Gay m Muslim Yipeeee!! My family except it even orthodox family members . They told me that is between u and ur maker . Salaam shalom to my Jewish gay brothers n sisters !
Wow. I am so moved. I'm a Reform Jew who went to an Orthodox Day School in the Catskills. I felt like I knew all of you guys, you look and sound like my family and friends. Oh my, I haven't cried for any of these, but I burst into tears at this one, it just hit home so hard that I knew you and I'm like you and it's gonna be OK. Also, I'm thrilled that there are Orthodox rabbis out there who are telling their communities to accept gay Jews. (7:44) Is that new? Thank you so much.
I want to honour your struggle to be both Jewish and gay. A reminder that there are streams in Judaism (all but Orthodox) who would e,brace both of those aspects of your lives. I hope that you can stay though and be the brave voices that will force change in the future as is already happening. Much hatzalcha to you all and know that HaShem loves you. May that love be expressed too be all Am Yisrael.
I don't need this now, but definitely this would have helped a few years ago. :) Thank you so much for this incredible video. This needed to be made. I'm so happy y'all did this :D There's totally a Hebrew phrase that could be used here but it escapes my mind. I am a very open transgender Jew in an orthodox community (female to male). It's extremely difficult because now I wear suits and kippos to shul when I do go. I'm not terribly religious anymore. When people come over, I am still referred
Unless you accept Jesus Christ, which makes you a child of God then you are not. God loves all his creations but loves his children best. Jews are not the chosen. They lost that. All but the ones who follow Jesus. Jews can follow Jesus. Just not the hateful talmud
@Challabie I don't know about yourself, but I spent 2 years trying to change, and somehow I'm still very gay. I'm sure you remember that it says "al tadin es chavercha ad shetagia limkomo" (don't judge your friend until you stand his shoes), with that in mind, unless you or someone you know was successful at "changing", please respect our words, as we respect yours. And in all honesty, part the reason I'm not frum anymore is because of the attitudes that you clearly exhibit which pushes ppl away
I have had a lifelong struggle with "community" because as someone who lived in this very suffocating Jewish world for so long I always saw communities as environments that asked you to give up parts of yourself to join them. I associate community with trauma because of how I was raised. It sucks.
The love and acceptance is out there. I wish I had more opportunity to let you all know that I personally accept and respect all of you! I am“yeshivish” happily married and straight,nevertheless I love and respect and accept every single Jew and every human being!
this posting is my FAVORITE of the it-gets-better project. the human emotion caught on camera is the most moving and inspiring. gay/ straight, christian/jew, we are all people of the same universe. let's live in peace respecting each other and continue to help those less fortunate than ourselves!
These guys are so brave to face their fear head on and just love themselves. They are such Beautiful men and proud to be gay. Life Does get better your aunt is correct. Hugs To These Wonderful Boys.
I am of a Jewish mother and a Catholic father. I am gay and it does not define me as a person. I am sure that God understands, I am not so sure about everyone else!
There's a big difference between accepting people, and accepting behaviors. Whether or not you agree with the behavior, you can simultaneously say someone is a beautiful person. We can accept these people as human beings, even if we do not know how to relate to, or accept their choices of how to live it out. This vid shows: clearly they have gone through their own personal hell to just feel okay as human beings. I can cry with/for their suffering, even if I don't relate to the struggle.
i'm not Jewish .i'm Christian but i love to see things like this regardless of the religion,we are all under the same God and i think a church,synagogue, mosque,etc telling someone that who God made them is wrong is a much bigger sin than anything else. God bless everyone
Brothers and Sisters, My heart goes out to you. All I can say is that the documentary a "Trembling ..." freed me to weep in empathy. I stand with you. Thank you for your courage.
This was lovely and certainly being a Hindu myself, I can relate to the contention of the inner-turmoil of "does it make me any less of a Hindu being gay?" or even less of a human being. Still, I couldn't agree more that it does get better and the sooner you realize that God doesn't make any mistakes, you will relish the Divine creation that you are!
In bais yakkov I used to see witness girls hold hands and sometimes refer to each other as “ cute”. When I was a kid this often confused me because to me these behaviors always held romantic/sexual significances, but to the strait girls there was nothing sexual or romantic around these behaviors. Children often experience companionate/social attraction to one other but it is not necessarily actually homosexual in nature.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE? VERY GOOD FOR THESE GUYS, THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH DOUBLE LIFE, WHICH IS WORSE. PEOPLE WHO HAVE KNOWN REFUGE IN RELIGION TRYING TO CHANGE, BUT IT IS TOTALLY CONFUSED. BEING GAY IS NOT SOMETHING ABBINABLE. GAY PEOPLE ALSO PRAY!
This video was inspiring and humbling. It makes me even more proud to be a gay man. I believe it is our struggles and facing of adversity that affords us our right to freedom, happiness and very soon I'm sure, total equality. ~Dimitri Minucci
this is so sad, all the guys here are so nice and sincere, its so sad to see you guys suffer just because you are gay. I am straight and married to my beautiful wife, however I strongly support gay rights. I wish you all nothing but happiness and hopefully people will open up their eyes and see how stupid they are to fight gay people
@choyayahyah First of all, I never claimed to be anything. My personal religious beliefs aren't relevant to this discussion because there's only one important point here: if you are orthodox or if you grew up orthodox and felt isolated, shamed and alone like most of us did, you're not alone. To say that viohavta lireacha kamocha doesn't apply to someone is downright horrible and despicable, everyone deserves to be treated with respect no matter what they do or how they are.
this is a great video. I am glad u all found acceptance and love. you deserve it. I don't feel part of..it is not about my sexual orientation I just don't feel part of. i wish it was about gayness, bc then I know where to go to heal this.. it's just what occurs wherever I go . People are nice, but don't want to be friends or let me take leadership. there's a divide, it's subtle but there, and I don't know what to do. I was in.a community last night and did not feel part of, can't be in the club. the last time I went I had an open meltdown, was totally inappropriate, yelling etc. last night "just" an inner meltdown. left and cld not stop crying. If anyone has Feed back. wld welcome it. I am glad At least some folks in the ortho community are being more accepting All the best
You beat me to it, someone asked me if I would show me support in a video instead of just via my writing, Amazing video, seriously was on the verge of tears - someday the frummies will wake up realize that being gay is not just like any other "tayva" that telling someone that they should avoid marriage, love and the fulfillment of life isn't like telling them to refrain from cheese burgers. I hope this video gets around and people see the hurt and the pain and can realize that we need to love...
I came out without a problem. And I'm in the Manchester Jewish community. Im the only open gay jew I know of in Manchester I came out at 9 so it was easy coming out.
this is the most beautiful pro gay vid I've ever seen..done without hate, without rejeccting the religion that sometimes rejects them, without rancour...you guys deserve a big hug from everyone! live forever!
As a non gay black women! Bravo! We are all beautiful and good enough just as we are! I don't believe in God... but, if there were a God, he wouldn't reject anyone, since, everyone is made in his likeness. Personally, I think man made religions enslave us--but, I respect everyone.
I wish I could give everyone a bracha that the truth may be clear to all of us soon, both to the struggelers and the non-struggelers. May Hashem reveal to us the truth of His ways so everone can be the person Hashem truly wants them to be and live a happy, G-d fearing llife. To those who see it in themselves that accepting this is not the goal but rather to get out of it, may you be blessed. And to those who have come to believe accepting this is the ultimate goal, may you be blessed too.
Bravo to ALL these young men that decided to live their lives the way they are and NOT the way others want them to live. BRAVO! And all of you haters, from now on, you won't like what you like most and it is ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED to like it again. Of course, is going to be easy.... tell that to your intellect. All of you are absolutely, irrevocably, intrinsically... RIDICULOUS! You don't like gay people, then look the other way. Live and let live and mostly, mind your own damn business. Bravo to you all brave guys. Bravi!!!!
Thank you. So many young people, Jew and Non Jew need to hear this news. With this video you surely will save countless lives from despair and angst. Thank you.
'the more you live your life based on who you are, the better jew you will be". amazing!!!!!!!!! LOVE THE VIDEO !!! you have inspired me... lovelovelove!
Thanks for the video. Let us all work to spread this message on facebook through our friends. Every religious Jewish person whether gay or straight should see this video. Hopefully there will be 300,000 plus views of this video!
I am Orthodox and straight, and want you to know that not only do my husband and I support GBLT in the Jewish community, but so do MANY of my Orthodox friends. There are frum communities that welcome and support, and we will not tolerate bigotry, hatred or intolerance. We are with you!
Mozal Tov for putting up this video. This is amazing. I know many orthodox Jews and many non-orthodox Jews all of them have different opinons. This video is just to late for people to have seen it. But it is better now then never.
@Challabie Tzadik I grew up believing that a lot of different ppl were Moshiach and that he's coming any minute now, so far that didn't happen. Call me an apikores for not believing, that's your prerogative, but honestly, i couldn't care less. Coming out was the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm open and honest about who i am and that made my life better in so many ways. Quote as many scriptures as you'd like, you'll never take that away from us.
When I was in primary school, someone asked me "asked me, are you the boy who doesn't like Jesus?" and when I lived in the UK, my boyfriend said to me "don't be Jewish" meaning "don't be stingy". I am still not amused.
Thank you, thank you all! I can´t exactly explain how I ended up here, in this video. But you don´t have idea what kinds of thoughts were runnning in my mind. This constant and louder battle between me, my religion, God, family, people around...so...thank you! Very very much!
The story that Mordecai told of the words that his aunt told him brought tears to my eyes. What a lovely woman! She's an example of what a truly good religious person is: someone who is kind, good and loving. This is one of the best "It Gets Better" videos that I have seen. These men have a terrific testimony here, and it's one that all religious people should view. I hope that the youngsters who are doubting themselves will see this video and be able to draw strength from it.
JQY is a 501c3, the website is isted on the video. There are over 600 members. They organize Support programing for LGBT Jews who come from Orthodox backgrounds. You can contact MLevovitz@JQYouth.org for more info.
I love every single one of you , specially the first jewish cutie.....lol im catholic , but i dont really go to church, however i pray at home and i think thats enough.i SUPPORT everything GAY dont matter in what shape or form, religious or not, ultimatly we are who we are and we deserve the same kindness and respect, im a T girl who started as a gay boy and since i was thrown to the world alone, i had to grow a THICK SKIN and not let anyone tell me what and who i should be..
@choyayahyah Being that my bar mitzvah parsha was actually Achrei Mos Kedoshim I can tell YOU what it says in the torah about "being gay", and let me assure you that in no place does it say one isn't allowed to BE gay. There's a big difference between being gay and performing specific acts that may be prohibited according to torah law. When someone says that they're gay they aren't saying that they're sinning, they're telling you who they are.
Love doesn't discriminate. Boundaries were made by humans. How can u as parents sleep when u can't love ur children as they are? Women being submissive is also just another power game.
to sum up pretty much of what I said, you can be 100% about WHO IS MASHIACH, WHEN HE HAD TO COME AND WHAT HE WOULD HAVE TO DO TO BE THE GOEL, REDEEMER AND THAT HE IS COMING BACK. respectively, but not exclusively found in the following passages of the Holy TANA''CH: Psalm 110, Daniel 9, Isiah 53, Psalm 22, Psalm 118, Psalm 45, Psalm 2 and Zachariah 12
I’m glad the video came out well. Most people arrive at jqy by accident and just imagine all the people who could use such a support community but never find out about it. This sort of exposure is a step in the right direction.
@Meskiagkasher I hear that. But this isn't about faith for me, it's about saving young innocent lives who are being told that they're worthless because of the religion that they grew up in. It's much easier said than done to just leave it all behind, believe me. So while I still think your generalization of jews is unfair... I hear you. Being Jewish doesn't mean that I adhere to the biblical deity.. Don't forget that.
@ElianaTair Yes, there are gay woman who have grown up in the ultra orthodox community. I happen to be friends with several women who are part of the jqy community and although they are underrepresented they do indeed exist.
@Stepback84 While you may find yourself searching for the perfect way to describe my "lifestyle", i'll be continuing to live on to a happier and more fulfilled life while being true to myself. You can assume what you'd like about my life and and even quote terms commonly used by repairative thearpists, but don't forget I went to repairative therapy for 2 years and it didn't work, and trust me there are many others who had the same experience. Remember guys, it gets better :) -Chaim Levin
god bless you guys. im not jewish myself,somewhat of a muslim orthodox actually. there are not many openly gay muslim people in youtube doin "it gets better" vids so thats why im here! dont shoot me plz! jk I could totally relate to what they said, especially the confusion and that feeling of probably being "just different" that the guy in white mentioned, being from a religious background. it was just so touchin listenin to them sharin their stories and experiences. I salute you guys. peace,
I found this so touching and inspiring. It takes a tremendous amount of strength and courage to come to terms with these experiences, and even more so to be able to come out publicly, and I'm sure that this video will give strength to others going through this.
@2blueyez1 I haven't gone anywhere. The fact that I choose not to be observant doesn't change the fact that I was raised frum and there are things that people can learn from hearing my story. My life today isn't the conversation here, it's about what I endured before I got here. How hard it was to be in Yeshiva when there were voices being whispered all about my sexuality. I'm sorry you feel it as a loss that I'm not frum, but let's try and stay focused to what's relevant here.
I am Jewish and Gay and admire all of you guys who have the courage to come out on here! Wish to have a Jewish husband soon. When I had my coming out, my mum said: if only HE were Jewish. Keep up the good work. Love from Switzerland.
I remember Mordechai from elementary school. He was a really nice guy and highly intelligent. I dont believe that I participated in the abuse he went through--it seems that most of what he went through was in high school--but I feel for the guy.
@Menechem Many people would call your lifestyle "immoral" but it seems you don't care. Whether you understand or agree or disagree of our lifestyle, you have no right to judge us. No matter what you say, there's nothing more beautiful than two people loving each other.
![Hunxho - Ball Forever [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nki9ZTF9Uls/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for all the positive comments here, I don't think I have what to comment on the negative ones.
These are our life experiences and I am honored to be able to share them with the world to help others who were in the same situation as myself as well as many others.
-Chaim Levin
Are you still single!? Haha you really stood out to me in the video.. with both your personality and looks :)
This video is needed not only for jews, but gays in general. I am a Christian, but I've realized that all religious homosexuals have these issues; you all are very brave and sweet for posting this video. Thank You
2:45 I held it together until that point. And then I burst out crying, because wow. What a compassionate lovely woman that aunt is. "I promise you that there will come a time when you'll feel like you're wanted in this world."
Omg, these men are amazing with their stories, their honesty, and their acceptance of their gayness. They're speaking their truth & their hopes, kudos 👏 to them.
This video is beautiful!
I love you all so much.
I am gay, Jewish and very happy that I have accepted myself as being made in the image and likeness of hashem, yisborakh.
Don't let ignorant, hateful people get you down.
You have lots of friends in this world.
We are here; reach out to us. Go to a gay, Jewish group or even just e mail one.
Reach out.
Do not suffer in silence and alone.
Thank you for this mitzvah, gentlemen. Having lived through this, I can attest to how hard it is. You're all extremely brave. Thank you.
I’m so glad you guys did this video!!! I was raised secular, became frum, then left it. During the time I was frum I sensed there were gay people in the frum community and wondered how they were going to live…. I still wonder and worry that the gay orthodox people might be accepted but are told not to act on it. So they have to spend their lives alone and have no sexual outlet and have no way to build a family…?? I really hope that’s not the case…
Gay m Muslim Yipeeee!! My family except it even orthodox family members . They told me that is between u and ur maker .
Salaam shalom to my Jewish gay brothers n sisters !
You are all created in the image of God and I, for one, am honored to have heard a small piece of your story. Thank you for being who you are!
You are all so inspirational
Wow. I am so moved.
I'm a Reform Jew who went to an Orthodox Day School in the Catskills. I felt like I knew all of you guys, you look and sound like my family and friends. Oh my, I haven't cried for any of these, but I burst into tears at this one, it just hit home so hard that I knew you and I'm like you and it's gonna be OK.
Also, I'm thrilled that there are Orthodox rabbis out there who are telling their communities to accept gay Jews. (7:44) Is that new?
Thank you so much.
I want to honour your struggle to be both Jewish and gay. A reminder that there are streams in Judaism (all but Orthodox) who would e,brace both of those aspects of your lives. I hope that you can stay though and be the brave voices that will force change in the future as is already happening. Much hatzalcha to you all and know that HaShem loves you. May that love be expressed too be all Am Yisrael.
Religion should teach love and acceptance. Never hate.
I'm not Jewish, I'm a Episcopalian ( Christian) and let me tell you, this video gave me so much hope and a feeling of peace! Thank you. So much.
Thanks guys for a beautiful and moving video.
Bawling! Thank you guys. This is EXACTLY what I needed to watch
You just helped a young man of 16 more than you will ever know. Yasher koach. Thanks for your stories and encouragement.
Thank you to everyone for all the support. Please publicize this video as widely as possible!
Love this.
I don't need this now, but definitely this would have helped a few years ago. :)
Thank you so much for this incredible video. This needed to be made. I'm so happy y'all did this :D
There's totally a Hebrew phrase that could be used here but it escapes my mind.
I am a very open transgender Jew in an orthodox community (female to male). It's extremely difficult because now I wear suits and kippos to shul when I do go. I'm not terribly religious anymore. When people come over, I am still referred
i needed this growng up... pretty desperately. This video could have saved me a lot of heartache.
God is Love. You are all perfect in His eyes.
timothy nacalaban This is a gentile view, not a Jewish one.
@@EPA18 it is a Humanist view, religions all segregate people, that's a sad fact.
Unless you accept Jesus Christ, which makes you a child of God then you are not.
God loves all his creations but loves his children best. Jews are not the chosen. They lost that. All but the ones who follow Jesus. Jews can follow Jesus. Just not the hateful talmud
No, that's Christianity.
Read this
כב וְאֶת-זָכָר--לֹא תִשְׁכַּב, מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה: תּוֹעֵבָה, הִוא.
@Challabie I don't know about yourself, but I spent 2 years trying to change, and somehow I'm still very gay. I'm sure you remember that it says "al tadin es chavercha ad shetagia limkomo" (don't judge your friend until you stand his shoes), with that in mind, unless you or someone you know was successful at "changing", please respect our words, as we respect yours. And in all honesty, part the reason I'm not frum anymore is because of the attitudes that you clearly exhibit which pushes ppl away
noone can judge. I hope you experience more love and acceptance your way in this new year. Shana Tova.
I have had a lifelong struggle with "community" because as someone who lived in this very suffocating Jewish world for so long I always saw communities as environments that asked you to give up parts of yourself to join them. I associate community with trauma because of how I was raised. It sucks.
Made me cry, as I am a orthodox girl and I am gay. It's so hard at times
The love and acceptance is out there. I wish I had more opportunity to let you all know that I personally accept and respect all of you! I am“yeshivish” happily married and straight,nevertheless I love and respect and accept every single Jew and every human being!
such a beautiful message!
this posting is my FAVORITE of the it-gets-better project. the human emotion caught on camera is the most moving and inspiring. gay/ straight, christian/jew, we are all people of the same universe. let's live in peace respecting each other and continue to help those less fortunate than ourselves!
These guys are so brave to face their fear head on and just love themselves. They are such Beautiful men and proud to be gay. Life Does get better your aunt is correct. Hugs To These Wonderful Boys.
כב וְאֶת-זָכָר--לֹא תִשְׁכַּב, מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה: תּוֹעֵבָה, הִוא.
I am of a Jewish mother and a Catholic father. I am gay and it does not define me as a person. I am sure that God understands, I am not so sure about everyone else!
There's a big difference between accepting people, and accepting behaviors. Whether or not you agree with the behavior, you can simultaneously say someone is a beautiful person. We can accept these people as human beings, even if we do not know how to relate to, or accept their choices of how to live it out.
This vid shows: clearly they have gone through their own personal hell to just feel okay as human beings. I can cry with/for their suffering, even if I don't relate to the struggle.
i'm not Jewish .i'm Christian but i love to see things like this regardless of the religion,we are all under the same God and i think a church,synagogue, mosque,etc telling someone that who God made them is wrong is a much bigger sin than anything else.
God bless everyone
So proud of these men , thank you for sharing your life with us. keep up the good work. x
Brothers and Sisters, My heart goes out to you. All I can say is that the documentary a "Trembling ..." freed me to weep in empathy. I stand with you. Thank you for your courage.
This was lovely and certainly being a Hindu myself, I can relate to the contention of the inner-turmoil of "does it make me any less of a Hindu being gay?" or even less of a human being. Still, I couldn't agree more that it does get better and the sooner you realize that God doesn't make any mistakes, you will relish the Divine creation that you are!
These comments need a little more love.
You guys are awesome! Keep the faith and pride--and don't let anyone tell you that's a contradiction!
In bais yakkov I used to see witness girls hold hands and sometimes refer to each other as “ cute”. When I was a kid this often confused me because to me these behaviors always held romantic/sexual significances, but to the strait girls there was nothing sexual or romantic around these behaviors. Children often experience companionate/social attraction to one other but it is not necessarily actually homosexual in nature.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE? VERY GOOD FOR THESE GUYS, THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH DOUBLE LIFE, WHICH IS WORSE. PEOPLE WHO HAVE KNOWN REFUGE IN RELIGION TRYING TO CHANGE, BUT IT IS TOTALLY CONFUSED. BEING GAY IS NOT SOMETHING ABBINABLE. GAY PEOPLE ALSO PRAY!
GAY JEWISH AND PROUD
Double Trouble I fit into one more minority category than you.I am gay Jewish and Ethiopian
You all are beautiful men.....and, God does love us.
This video was inspiring and humbling. It makes me even more proud to be a gay man. I believe it is our struggles and facing of adversity that affords us our right to freedom, happiness and very soon I'm sure, total equality. ~Dimitri Minucci
this is so sad, all the guys here are so nice and sincere, its so sad to see you guys suffer just because you are gay. I am straight and married to my beautiful wife, however I strongly support gay rights. I wish you all nothing but happiness and hopefully people will open up their eyes and see how stupid they are to fight gay people
One of the best It Gets Better videos I've seen. Thank you all for sharing your stories.
@choyayahyah First of all, I never claimed to be anything. My personal religious beliefs aren't relevant to this discussion because there's only one important point here: if you are orthodox or if you grew up orthodox and felt isolated, shamed and alone like most of us did, you're not alone.
To say that viohavta lireacha kamocha doesn't apply to someone is downright horrible and despicable, everyone deserves to be treated with respect no matter what they do or how they are.
OMHG! I am so with you guys on this documentary. You guys are very handsome!
Thank you for being open and honest about your experiences.
I so admire this video and everyone in it. Just be you oxox
this is a great video. I am glad u all found acceptance and love. you deserve it.
I don't feel part of..it is not about my sexual orientation
I just don't feel part of. i wish it was about gayness, bc then I know where to go to heal this.. it's just what occurs wherever I go .
People are nice, but don't want to be friends or let me take leadership. there's a divide, it's subtle but there, and I don't know what to do.
I was in.a community last night and did not feel part of, can't be in the club. the last time I went I had an open meltdown, was totally inappropriate, yelling etc. last night "just" an inner meltdown. left and cld not stop crying.
If anyone has Feed back. wld welcome it.
I am glad At least some folks in the ortho community are being more accepting
All the best
May you come across more love and acceptance than you ever thought possible.
Awesome video guys! As we all know it really does get better..A LOT BETTER! :)
You beat me to it, someone asked me if I would show me support in a video instead of just via my writing, Amazing video, seriously was on the verge of tears - someday the frummies will wake up realize that being gay is not just like any other "tayva" that telling someone that they should avoid marriage, love and the fulfillment of life isn't like telling them to refrain from cheese burgers. I hope this video gets around and people see the hurt and the pain and can realize that we need to love...
B"H - Thank you for reaching out and sharing. This video will make a difference in many lives in the future
I came out without a problem. And I'm in the Manchester Jewish community. Im the only open gay jew I know of in Manchester I came out at 9 so it was easy coming out.
You shouldnt know of this when you're just 9
Beautiful video. Full of heart. People of the world, love each other.
Thank you so much for you honesty and bravery.
Awesome message guys. Thank you for the wonderful contribution and thank you for being you.
this is the most beautiful pro gay vid I've ever seen..done without hate, without rejeccting the religion that sometimes rejects them, without rancour...you guys deserve a big hug from everyone! live forever!
As a non gay black women! Bravo! We are all beautiful and good enough just as we are! I don't believe in God... but, if there were a God, he wouldn't reject anyone, since, everyone is made in his likeness. Personally, I think man made religions enslave us--but, I respect everyone.
I wish I could give everyone a bracha that the truth may be clear to all of us soon, both to the struggelers and the non-struggelers. May Hashem reveal to us the truth of His ways so everone can be the person Hashem truly wants them to be and live a happy, G-d fearing llife. To those who see it in themselves that accepting this is not the goal but rather to get out of it, may you be blessed. And to those who have come to believe accepting this is the ultimate goal, may you be blessed too.
Bravo to ALL these young men that decided to live their lives the way they are and NOT the way others want them to live. BRAVO!
And all of you haters, from now on, you won't like what you like most and it is ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED to like it again. Of course, is going to be easy.... tell that to your intellect. All of you are absolutely, irrevocably, intrinsically... RIDICULOUS!
You don't like gay people, then look the other way. Live and let live and mostly, mind your own damn business.
Bravo to you all brave guys. Bravi!!!!
Thank you. So many young people, Jew and Non Jew need to hear this news. With this video you surely will save countless lives from despair and angst. Thank you.
'the more you live your life based on who you are, the better jew you will be". amazing!!!!!!!!! LOVE THE VIDEO !!! you have inspired me... lovelovelove!
Thanks for the video. Let us all work to spread this message on facebook through our friends. Every religious Jewish person whether gay or straight should see this video. Hopefully there will be 300,000 plus views of this video!
I am Orthodox and straight, and want you to know that not only do my husband and I support GBLT in the Jewish community, but so do MANY of my Orthodox friends. There are frum communities that welcome and support, and we will not tolerate bigotry, hatred or intolerance. We are with you!
thank you!!!!
this video makes me so happy I am a Jewish Orthodox FTM and grew up Jewish Orthodox and you rarely see anything out there about it so thank you.:Shai.
Mozal Tov for putting up this video. This is amazing. I know many orthodox Jews and many non-orthodox Jews all of them have different opinons. This video is just to late for people to have seen it. But it is better now then never.
@Challabie Tzadik I grew up believing that a lot of different ppl were Moshiach and that he's coming any minute now, so far that didn't happen. Call me an apikores for not believing, that's your prerogative, but honestly, i couldn't care less. Coming out was the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm open and honest about who i am and that made my life better in so many ways. Quote as many scriptures as you'd like, you'll never take that away from us.
חזקו ואמצו!
Thank you guys - this is such an important message - for all of us to hear. Gay and straight.
It makes me so sad that all these beautiful people have suffered so much.
Superbly encouraging.
When I was in primary school, someone asked me "asked me, are you the boy who doesn't like Jesus?" and when I lived in the UK, my boyfriend said to me "don't be Jewish" meaning "don't be stingy". I am still not amused.
Thank you, thank you all! I can´t exactly explain how I ended up here, in this video. But you don´t have idea what kinds of thoughts were runnning in my mind. This constant and louder battle between me, my religion, God, family, people around...so...thank you! Very very much!
Beyond touched. Beautiful and brave.
so inspirational!! you guys are heroes!!!
@AdamLeventhal He is. This comes up on another video... RUclips won't let me post the link, but do a search on Vimeo for "Mordechai Levovitz".
The story that Mordecai told of the words that his aunt told him brought tears to my eyes. What a lovely woman! She's an example of what a truly good religious person is: someone who is kind, good and loving.
This is one of the best "It Gets Better" videos that I have seen. These men have a terrific testimony here, and it's one that all religious people should view. I hope that the youngsters who are doubting themselves will see this video and be able to draw strength from it.
JQY is a 501c3, the website is isted on the video. There are over 600 members. They organize Support programing for LGBT Jews who come from Orthodox backgrounds. You can contact MLevovitz@JQYouth.org for more info.
"Those 15 people didn't say a word..."
They never do.
Thanks for this video, it's important that you made it.
Same thing happened to me in high school...high school can be so torturous
GREAT VIDEO!!! MINUTE 8:17 ITS TOTALLY TRUE. G-D DOESNT MAKE OR CREATE BAD/WRONG THINGS. GAY PPL HAVE THEIR MISSION IN THIS WORLD AS A GAY.
Great job Chaim! Thanks for sharing!
Toda rabah. I'm not Orthodox but my story is similar. Thank you very much for sharing your stories.
Yasher koach! a superb job guys
I love every single one of you , specially the first jewish cutie.....lol
im catholic , but i dont really go to church, however i pray at home and i think thats enough.i SUPPORT everything GAY dont matter in what shape or form, religious or not, ultimatly we are who we are and we deserve the same kindness and respect, im a T girl who started as a gay boy and since i was thrown to the world alone, i had to grow a THICK SKIN and not let anyone tell me what and who i should be..
@choyayahyah Being that my bar mitzvah parsha was actually Achrei Mos Kedoshim I can tell YOU what it says in the torah about "being gay", and let me assure you that in no place does it say one isn't allowed to BE gay. There's a big difference between being gay and performing specific acts that may be prohibited according to torah law. When someone says that they're gay they aren't saying that they're sinning, they're telling you who they are.
Again... Bravo to YOU ALL!!!!!
Love doesn't discriminate. Boundaries were made by humans. How can u as parents sleep when u can't love ur children as they are? Women being submissive is also just another power game.
to sum up pretty much of what I said, you can be 100% about WHO IS MASHIACH, WHEN HE HAD TO COME AND WHAT HE WOULD HAVE TO DO TO BE THE GOEL, REDEEMER AND THAT HE IS COMING BACK.
respectively, but not exclusively found in the following passages of the Holy TANA''CH: Psalm 110, Daniel 9, Isiah 53, Psalm 22, Psalm 118, Psalm 45, Psalm 2 and Zachariah 12
you guys are inspiring!
I’m glad the video came out well. Most people arrive at jqy by accident and just imagine all the people who could use such a support community but never find out about it. This sort of exposure is a step in the right direction.
@Meskiagkasher I hear that. But this isn't about faith for me, it's about saving young innocent lives who are being told that they're worthless because of the religion that they grew up in. It's much easier said than done to just leave it all behind, believe me. So while I still think your generalization of jews is unfair... I hear you. Being Jewish doesn't mean that I adhere to the biblical deity.. Don't forget that.
Good for you, making a difference. So important.
@ElianaTair
Yes, there are gay woman who have grown up in the ultra orthodox community. I happen to be friends with several women who are part of the jqy community and although they are underrepresented they do indeed exist.
@Stepback84 While you may find yourself searching for the perfect way to describe my "lifestyle", i'll be continuing to live on to a happier and more fulfilled life while being true to myself. You can assume what you'd like about my life and and even quote terms commonly used by repairative thearpists, but don't forget I went to repairative therapy for 2 years and it didn't work, and trust me there are many others who had the same experience. Remember guys, it gets better :) -Chaim Levin
god bless you guys.
im not jewish myself,somewhat of a muslim orthodox actually. there are not many openly gay muslim people in youtube doin "it gets better" vids so thats why im here! dont shoot me plz! jk
I could totally relate to what they said, especially the confusion and that feeling of probably being "just different" that the guy in white mentioned, being from a religious background. it was just so touchin listenin to them sharin their stories and experiences.
I salute you guys.
peace,
Magnificent piece of work! Congratulations! How could I possibly support the cause? Shalom!
כב וְאֶת-זָכָר--לֹא תִשְׁכַּב, מִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה: תּוֹעֵבָה, הִוא.
I am in love with Eli. I am a gay catholic, and for some unknown reason, gay Jewish men are the hottest on the earth. Love this video.
Nice video guys. Thanks!
I found this so touching and inspiring. It takes a tremendous amount of strength and courage to come to terms with these experiences, and even more so to be able to come out publicly, and I'm sure that this video will give strength to others going through this.
exactly, what you just said is the truth, and it's unfathomable why it's so impossible for most to "get this point."
@2blueyez1 I haven't gone anywhere. The fact that I choose not to be observant doesn't change the fact that I was raised frum and there are things that people can learn from hearing my story. My life today isn't the conversation here, it's about what I endured before I got here. How hard it was to be in Yeshiva when there were voices being whispered all about my sexuality. I'm sorry you feel it as a loss that I'm not frum, but let's try and stay focused to what's relevant here.
I am Jewish and Gay and admire all of you guys who have the courage to come out on here! Wish to have a Jewish husband soon. When I had my coming out, my mum said: if only HE were Jewish. Keep up the good work. Love from Switzerland.
the video came out great!
I remember Mordechai from elementary school. He was a really nice guy and highly intelligent. I dont believe that I participated in the abuse he went through--it seems that most of what he went through was in high school--but I feel for the guy.
@Menechem Many people would call your lifestyle "immoral" but it seems you don't care. Whether you understand or agree or disagree of our lifestyle, you have no right to judge us. No matter what you say, there's nothing more beautiful than two people loving each other.