Who is on the JCCV GLBT Reference Group?

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) has delighted itself in setting up a reference group to look into issues affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people in the Jewish Community.  It was first announced here by the JCCV on December 24 2009.

The question has been asked of me who is on this reference group.  Indeed, a good question.  I understand this is the current make-up of the group

  1. John Searle
    JCCV President
    Heterosexual (married / parent)
    Orthodox Jewish
  2. Anton Block
    Immediate past JCCV president
    Heterosexual (married / parent)
    Orthodox Jewish
  3. Dr Ruth Kweitel
    Registered psychologist (area of specialty is gambling)
    Heterosexual  (married / parent)
    Jewish (likely orthodox)
  4. Daniel Leighton
    Formerly with Jewish care
    Heterosexual (married / parent)
    Jewish
  5. Sally Goldner
    Transgender rights activist
    Representing GLBT community (person 1 of 3)
    Jewish background
  6. Nathan Rose
    Representing GLBT community (person 2 of 3)
    Jewish
  7. <Person 7>
    Representing GLBT community (person 3 of 3)
    Jewish

Pretty much all the people are either with or sympathetic to the JCCV.  The JCCV reps are both orthodox.  There are no representatives from the sizable Progressive Jewish community.  There appear to be no professionals on the reference group with a background in mental health or depression relating to sexual orientation or gender identity.  Lots of Yes people.  No surprises.

As the make-up of this reference group becomes clearer I’ll post further updates.  Stay tuned.


30/04/2012: As of October 31 2011 when the JCCV released their GLBT Reference Group report into vilification and discrimination, it was apparent that Julie Leder and Doron Abramovici were also on the reference group.

Jewish News – Letter to the Editor – Internet Hate

From: Michael Barnett <mikeybear69@gmail.com>
Date: 3 May 2010 02:11
Subject: Letter to the Editor / Your Voice: On Internet Hate
To: AJN Letters to the Editor <letters@jewishnews.net.au>
Cc: yourvoice@jewishnews.net.au

I refer to the cover story on Internet Hate in last week’s edition.  The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) oversees the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (BB ADC).  It also auspices a reference group “to address issues of vilification and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Jews as well as mental health issues occasioned by exclusion”.

In August 2009 I brought to the attention of the BB ADC the situation where a Jewish blog site in Melbourne was publishing hate material targetting gay Jews in Melbourne and Israel.  Deborah Stone of the BB ADC responded by saying “Unfortunately my board is not prepared for our organisation to engage with discrimination issues beyond our specific remit of antisemitism and racism”.

I put it to the JCCV now that if they, and in fact the entire Jewish community, are serious about Internet based hate material then a zero-tolerance for all forms of hate targetting people in the Jewish community must be established.  It is unacceptable to selectively fight some types of hate and turn a blind eye to others.

It is also incongruous of the JCCV to claim to be addressing discrimination against GLBT Jews at the same time as not speaking out against the hate material targetting GLBT Jews.

The Jewish community must speak out against homophobic hate from within it’s own walls and not be the perpetrator of hate if it wants the wider society to help when it claims to be the victim of anti-semitic hate.

Michael Barnett.
Ashwood
0417 595 541