Local Congregations Celebrate Austin Pride | Shalom Austin

Local Congregations Celebrate Austin Pride

The Jewish Outlook

Aug 30, 2023

Temple Beth Shalom participates in Austin Pride Parade. Courtesy: Amanda Leventhal

By Allison Teegardin

On Saturday, August 12, members from various local congregations took part in the Pride Parade in Austin, Texas. The parade is hosted by the City of Austin and the Austin Pride Foundation. This year marked the 33rd year for the parade.

Free to the public, the Austin Pride Parade is volunteer-run and attracts hundreds of thousands of participants. Congregation Beth Israel’s Sisterhood President Claudia Sanchez serves on the Austin Pride Foundation board. “It was so wonderful to see so many of our Jewish LGBTQ+ community and allies come out to show support and representation,” said Sanchez. “I’m thankful to Temple Beth Shalom for organizing and inviting CBI and Ga’avah to march at Pride. I felt so proud of our part in the parade. So much love and celebration.” Ga’avah is the Jewish LGBTQ+ group at CBI co-founded by Sanchez.

“Celebrating Pride continues to be one of CBI’s biggest joys. Our annual Pride Shabbat provides a creative and meaningful experience for the entire community. Marching in the Pride parade gives us the opportunity to both pray with our feet and share our enthusiasm for the LGBTQIA+ community. We’re grateful to have a thriving Ga’avah group, led by Claudia Sanchez, and we’re grateful to show all of Austin how important it is to attend Pride events and bring Pride to CBI,” said Rabbi Kelly Levy.

Latest Posts

Austin’s Jewish Community Has Pride    

Austin’s Jewish Community Has Pride    

Members of the 2024 Austin Pride Jewish community delegation. Credit: Rob Rossignol  By Emily Bourgeois     In a year marked by so much heartbreak for the Jewish community, Pride seemed like it would be a welcome reprieve. The celebration, held in Austin during August...

Praying for a Peaceful New Year  

Praying for a Peaceful New Year  

Since I will be on sabbatical, I am writing this column in June shortly before my leave begins. Summer camp is well underway at Shalom Austin and both of our Texas overnight camps, Camp Young Judaea Texas and URJ Greene Family Camp, began their first session only a...

Home Away From Home: Austin Welcomes New ShinShinim for Second Year

Home Away From Home: Austin Welcomes New ShinShinim for Second Year

Austin's ShinShinim Eyal Yehonatan Butbul and Ariella Goldstein. Courtesy: Michal Ilali As a part of Shalom Austin’s Israel initiative, a Zeff family grant and generous local donors, for the second year in a row, two ShinShinim are coming to Austin. ShinShinim are...