Young gay Jews will financially support costs of undergraduate clubs while freeze lasts

Jewish Queer Youth (JQY) will financially support all undergraduate club expenses while the temporary freeze on club activities at Yeshiva University remains in effect, the organization told The Commentator on Monday.

JQY’s decision was in response to YU’s temporary freeze, taken shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court denied the university a stay of a recognition order from the YU Pride Alliance, and is intended to honor the YU LGBTQ+ students. Clubs will be able to apply for up to $500 in funding per event.

“JQY will provide financial support to ALL undergraduate clubs at Yeshiva University as long as the school uses its refusal to recognize the YU Pride Alliance as an excuse to deny all organizations to its students,” JQY told The Commentator .

JQY is a nonprofit that supports and empowers LGBTQ+ youth in the Orthodox Jewish community, according to its website. Founded in 2001, JQY has supported the YU Pride Alliance since its founding, including funding mental health services for its members over the past year.

JQY told the commentator that the decision was made to honor YU’s LGBTQ+ students and prevent students from being against one another.

“YU stops all clubs because of its gay students. JQY will therefore fund all clubs in honor of its queer students. Instead of dangerously pitting students against each other, we want to send a message of unity and fairness.

“Starting today, each student club that cannot operate normally due to the deferral of YU funding can request up to $500 below for a club event, through our JQYU program. “

JQY University (JQYU), is JQY’s cross-campus Jewish LGBT student network and serves as an umbrella group for Jewish LGBT+ organizations on campus.

JQY has currently set aside two months of funding for clubs and will raise additional funds if the freeze lasts longer.

“If the University does not restore club life within two months, JQY is committed to raising additional funds from alumni, allies and philanthropists who have asked what they can do to help “, a spokesperson for JQY told The Commentator. “Donors and Jewish institutions around the world have a vested interest in keeping YU student life vibrant and vibrant for every undergraduate student.”

Clubs seeking funding from JQY will be required to complete a form outlining the event budget, expenses, logistical issues and estimated number of attendees. Applications will then need to be approved by the JQY Collegiate Program Manager, who will endeavor to assist clubs and prevent the misuse of funds.

If students can’t reserve space on campus, JQY will offer clubs reservable rooms in New York’s WeWork buildings as well as other space for rent within walking distance of each campus, JQY told the commentator.

JQY previously helped host on-campus panels of LGBTQ+ students and alumni discussing their experiences in the Jewish community in 2009 and 2020.

YU’s announcement on Friday, which specified that “undergraduate club activities” would be temporarily frozen, also froze other student activities, including events organized by the student government.

At least two events organized by undergraduate student councils have been canceled, including a trip to the Central Park Zoo on Sunday.

Yeshiva University predicts the freeze will end soon. “Our attorneys submitted the briefs on Friday, as ordered by the United States Supreme Court,” a university spokesperson told The Commentator on Saturday evening. “We expect a quick conclusion in court and the start of the clubs soon.”

More than 130 clubs applied for club status before the September 12 application deadline.