ABSTRACT
Due to the emphasis on “traditional” gender roles, the “nuclear family,” pro creation and conservative religious values, many gay and lesbian Jews feel a sense of alienation from the Jewish community and develop an ambivalent or conflict ed relationship about their own Jewish identity (Fishman 2000:106-109; Schnoor 2003). In addition to the difficulty of homophobia in the Jewish community, gay or lesbian Jews cannot presume full acceptance from the broader queer commu nity, as movements that focus on sustaining a collective identity for an oppressed
group sometimes overlook the concerns of sub-groups found within the larger movement (Eder, Staggenborg and Sudderth 1995:489; Goffman 1963:138). As a result, gay Jews often struggle to find ways to successfully negotiate their ethno religious and sexual identities. Based upon in-depth interviews of thirty gay Jewish men in Toronto, this work offers a case study in which to empirically and theoretically explore the varied experiences of these intersecting identities.
