Federation’s Affinities Pride Group
A 70-year-old man stood in a living room in January 2024, tears in his eyes, and called it “truly historic.” He wasn’t talking about the house. He was talking about what it had become: the launchpad of Federation’s first dedicated Affinities Pride Group, created to bring together LGBTQ+ Jews and allies of all ages.
That evening marked the beginning of something new and revealed something important. Federation has been building Jewish community for more than a century. But for some people, the path into that community wasn’t always obvious. Not because they weren’t welcome, but because no one had yet created an entry point that reflected their experience.
So we did.
Two years later, that path has widened. What began as a single event has grown into an ongoing rhythm, featuring holiday celebrations, storytelling programs and family-friendly gatherings where people come as they are and build relationships over time.
For many participants, this was their first experience with Federation. Today, some are volunteering, stepping into leadership roles and helping shape what comes next.
Building relationships has also made Federation more responsive. By listening to participants and working alongside our agency partners, we’ve identified needs, connected people with resources and created new opportunities for engagement across Jewish Detroit.
We’ve also been able to turn listening into action. In partnership with BBYO, the group hosted an intergenerational roundtable that brought LGBTQ+ teens and adults together to share stories and learn from one another. Recognizing that support starts at home, a separate program brought parents of LGBTQ+ youth together for a candid discussion on how to champion and support their kids in Jewish life.
And our spirit of partnership is only growing. Later this month, a Rainbow Challah Bake with Gesher Human Services will bring people together through ritual and creativity. Participants will bake two loaves, sharing one with Gesher residents and keeping one for themselves, grounding the tradition in both community and care.
Looking ahead, the group’s upcoming first mission to Israel will offer participants a chance to deepen these relationships on a global scale, exploring Jewish identity together and discovering where the path leads next.
The man who cried that first evening also said something else: “People didn’t want to leave.”
Perhaps that’s the best measure of success. Not attendance numbers or event calendars, but whether people find relationships worth returning for, and whether Jewish Detroit feels a little more like home.
(Main image: Affinities Pride Group kickoff.)
