J-Pride celebrates Pride Month big and bold
By Hunter Wengersky, J-Pride Coordinator, and Lucy Marshall, Community Services Director
In these times – when many of members of the Jewish LGBTQ+ community are experiencing fear, uncertainty, and isolation – Pride 2025 felt especially important. In collaboration with local synagogues and partner organizations, J-Pride led our biggest, boldest Pride season yet. Mobilizing for a safer, brighter future for all LGBTQ+ people, the Twin Cities Jewish community marched, prayed, sang, danced, and laughed our way through Pride 2025!
J-Pride kicked off Pride season by honoring local LGBTQ+ Jewish histories of brilliance and resilience. At two intergenerational events, J-Pride members explored the Tretter Collection and Upper Midwest Jewish Archives and enjoyed a walking tour of LGBTQ+ community spaces with the Mill City Museum.
Next, we launched into our own history-making Pride month! We sang and danced at a Pride-themed Klezmer Jam with our friends at Folk Will Save Us, adding our voices and ruach (spirit) to a celebration of LGBTQ+ Jewish music.
J-Pride’s 19th year at the Twin Cities Pride Festival was a fantastic finale to the festivities. We have proudly convened LGBTQ+ Jews and allies at the Pride Festival since 2006, and J-Pride is always expanding to meet an increase in community need and interest. A few 2025 Pride highlights include…
- Kiddos and their families gathered for Pride crafts, music, sweets, and learning at our first-ever PJ Library Pride Tot Shabbat with Shana (Eisenberg) Banana, PJ Library Coordinator Geri Goldman, and Cantor Heather Said of Adath Jeshurun Congregation.
- Rabbi Aaron Weininger of Adath Jeshurun Congregation, Rabbi Heather Renetzky of Mount Zion Temple, song leader Rachel Lipkin, ASL interpreter Laura Perez, and a multigenerational roster of Torah readers led a joyful, pluralistic Pride Shabbat service.
- JFCS staff and volunteers shared community resources, free PJ Library books, and Jewish LGBTQ+ pride at our J-Pride booth in Loring Park. Plus, festival-goers gained new wisdom through our unique Ask-A-Rabbi offering.
- Over 30 community members marched with J-Pride in the Twin Cities Pride Parade – our largest contingent yet! — waving signs like, “Proud to be queer and Jewish” and representing many Jewish organizations and congregations across the Twin Cities.
We are brimming with gratitude to the community partners, clergy, volunteers, and participants who contributed to such an impactful Pride. Thank you for showing up boldly with J-Pride’s LGBTQ+ Jewish community!
J-Pride’s 2025 Pride season makes it abundantly clear – together, we can co-create a vibrant, thriving, welcoming future for LGBTQ+ Jews and our allies. Together, we can cultivate hope, even amidst a challenging climate. In this spirit, J-Pride is thrilled to launch a brand-new initiative this fall, a Tzelem Group for Jewish LGBTQ+ teens!
Everyone deserves to be their fully authentic selves. J-Pride creates spaces where this is safe, possible, and fun for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies – not only during Pride month, but 365 days a year. Whether you’re new to our community or you’ve been making history with us for decades, you are welcome and celebrated at J-Pride.