Queer Liturgy for Active Coping: Jewish Prayers for LGBTQ+ Treatments and Medical Tests

Abstract

In recent years, the field of medicine has increasingly embraced inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community, marking a new era focused on addressing diverse health needs associated with varied identities. This qualitative study illustrates this progressive trend by textual analyzing specific six Jewish prayers that address LGBTQ+ concerns, including support for medical care and treatments related to sexual and gender identity, such as HIV/AIDS care. These contemporary liturgical texts for LGBTQ+ health procedures, often authored by LGBTQ+ rabbis, introduce new perspectives on body, gender, sexuality and divinity. They express both reverence for God's creation, acknowledging His role in healing and the efficacy of medicine, and respect for the body's ability to renew identity or fulfill its purpose. Concurrently, there is also a contemplative stance regarding the body and God, sometimes accompanied by a desire for reconciliation. This distinct queer liturgy exemplifies what I term a Jewish liturgy for active coping. I show how the liturgical texts can aid in addressing life experiences, including physical experiences that LGBTQ+ individuals frequently encounter, often accompanied by feelings of concealment, shame, and alienation. Thus, I argue that ignoring these issues or confining coping mechanisms solely to the medical arena does not necessarily resolve medical problems. Therefore, integrating physical experiences and medical interventions into Jewish textuality and liturgy highlights the intersection of LGBTQ+ health and renewal traditions, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing these practices for meaningful support.