Just Coming Out?
People come to Nehirim from all kinds of backgrounds — geographic, socio-economic, religious, ethnic… and one category unique to GLBT people: the degree to which each of us individually is “out of the closet,” and able to be open about our sexuality and gender identity.
Many people who come to Nehirim have been out for years, and for them, being in LGBT space is not so unusual. Many, however, are not out at all when they come to Nehirim—and we create a safe, confidential space for people to take their “first steps” as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or other identities. We have counselors on staff, and networks of support we can offer you. And we are very careful to maintain full confidentiality, never revealing names or using photos of people who, for whatever reason, ask us not to do so. If your life circumstances make it very difficult for you to be fully “out,” whether because of family, religious community, professional life, or any other reason, we’re here to support you as best we can. On the other hand, if you’ve decided to come out, but don’t know how to take the next steps, we have people who can mentor you, work with you, and help you find communities of support (Jewish and otherwise) as you make the transition. And of course, if you’re out, loud, and proud, Nehirim is a great place to celebrate and connect.
That said, Nehirim does not support or offer space for so-called “reparative therapies” or other bogus methods to change sexual orientation. Not only have these methods been proven not to work, they have been shown to do great harm to those who attempt them (or, more likely, are forced to undergo them). For this reason, we will never provide a forum for them at Nehirim programs, and we will continue to oppose them publicly. Indeed, many people come to Nehirim as veterans of reparative therapy — if you are considering such “therapy” yourself, we suggest you come to a retreat and meet people who’ve been through it. They will tell you how ineffective, damaging, and counter-productive it was.
If you are just coming out, we suggest the following resources to help you find a way to do so that’s right for you. We wish you courage and strength on your journey, and if we can be of help, please contact us.
Coming Out Guides from the Human Rights Campaign