The Bay Area’s high cost of living has pushed educational opportunities and Jewish experiences out of reach for many people in our community including the estimated 36,000 adult individuals that dual-identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) and Jewish. In a commitment to remove as many barriers to involvement into Jewish community life Federations’ LGBT Alliance subsidizes a few select programs each year to eliminate financial barriers. In aim this subsidized scholarship program further encourages LGBT identified Jewish individuals and families towards greater participation in Jewish community life.

While the majority of the Bay Area's Jewish organizations are at least open to the welcoming of LGBT people each of the organizations chosen to participate have each demonstrated the knowledge and ability to address, rather than dismiss, a number of issues that are unique to LGBT Jewish identity. In each of the following awarded programs core concepts of sexual orientation as well as gender and family identities are specifically demonstrated in parallel with LGBT-mission-based-programs:

1. Hazon: Annual Food Conference (learn more) and Bike Ride
2. Nehirim: Nehirim West, and Queer San Francisco Shabbaton
3. NUJLS: National Union of LGBTQI Jewish Student leaders Annual Spring Shabbaton
4. Camp Tawonga: Keshet LGBT Family Weekend Camp   
5. Bay Area Jewish Healing Center: Annual Grief and Growing Weekend
6. San Francisco Jewish Film Festival: The 31st festival held July 21 – August 8, 2011
7. Congregation Sha'ar Zahav: Rainbow Campaign supporting the Annual Pride Shabbat, Transgender Remembrance Shabbat, Pride March and Pride Seder

Aimed at confidentiality and trust individual and family participants must apply directly with each of the organizational recipients. If you are looking for additional ways to help make you and/or your family's Jewish experience more affordable please visit Federations' comprehensive list of awards, financial aid and needs-based scholarships.