The Reconstructionist Movement, an American-born form of Judaism which grew out of the Conservative Movement, has been a long time supporter of both LGBT civil rights and the inclusion of LGBT people in Jewish life. The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation (JRF, formerly FRCH) all have long histories of supporting the rights of LGBT people. In 1985, the FRCH adopted a resolution welcoming congregations serving primarily LGBT Jews into the movement. The movement began allowing its rabbis to perform marriage rituals for same-sex couples in 1993, and since then has also prohibited discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation.

Rabbinate
The policies concerning the Reconstructionist rabbinate are fully inclusive of LGBT people. In 1984, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) adopted an admissions policy that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman was the first “fully out” person to be admitted to RRC. She was admitted in 1984. In 1985 RRC ordained Rabbi Deborah Brin, its first openly gay rabbi. In 1990, the movement established a policy of non-discrimination in rabbinic placement, and in 1991, a movement-wide policy prohibiting discrimination in the referral of rabbis for congregational positions was put into place.

Same-Sex Marriage
The Reconstructionist Movement has long supported civil and religious marriage for same-sex couples. Although the movement did not officially pass a resolution in support of civil marriage for same-sex couples until 2004, the policies and practices of the movement have reflected this position since the early 1990s. In 1993, the RRA and FRCH adopted the conclusions of the Reconstructionist Committee on Homosexuality, which included: welcoming LGBT people as full members of the Reconstructionist Jewish community, and supporting rabbis who work with LGBT Jews, particularly those who officiate at rituals and rites of passage for LGBT Jews, including same-sex wedding ceremonies.

Moreover, when the movement passed an official resolution supporting same-sex civil marriage on March 16, 2004, the recommendations for inclusion were far-reaching. In the resolution, the RRA called upon its members to: “(1) Encourage the congregations, agencies, organizations, and institutions in which they serve to extend benefits to same-sex partners of staff members and employees, (2) Monitor local and regional developments and consider ways of advocating for same-sex civil marriage in their communities, and (3) Offer tzedakah donations to organizations advocating for civil rights for same-sex couples.” In other words, the Reconstructionist Movement encourages its members not only to tolerate LGBT people, but also to fully include them in the community and take an active role in fighting on behalf of LGBT civil rights.

Sex and Sexuality
Reconstructionist Judaism takes a values-based approach to homosexuality. In other words, unlike the halachic focus on prohibited sexual acts that informs Orthodox and Conservative responses to gay, lesbian and bisexual people, Reconstructionist Judaism does not look at homosexuality primarily in terms of sex. As Reconstructionist Rabbi Joshua Lesser, explains, “[Reconstructionist Jews] recognize homosexuality as a fundamental aspect of identity that deserves to be treated with the Jewish value of b’tzelem elohim (respect for human beings as made in God’s image)” (from ‘Gay Judaism’ and the Struggle for Inclusion). Consequently, Reconstructionist Jews are more concerned with the well being of the individual as a person than with the specific acts that LGBT people may or may not engage in. As is the case with the other “liberal” or “progressive” branches of Judaism, the Reconstructionist Movement recognizes and accepts the tenets of modern psychology, which asserts that homosexuality is a normative expression of sexuality.

Congregations and Leadership
In addition to the 1985 resolution passed by the JRF that welcomed congregations that primarily serve LGBT Jews to the movement, both the RRA and FRCH adopted the recommendations of the Reconstructionist Commission on Homosexuality. The recommendations called for the welcoming of LGBT people as full members of the community. LGBT people may participate in Jewish communal life at all levels and in all ways within the Reconstructionist Movement.

Reconstructionist Judaism has a significantly smaller bureaucratic structure than the three major movements (the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox branches), and as a result, it does not have as large a body of movement statements. Additionally, Reconstructionist Judaism does not offer the same types of official, published rabbinic opinions that the larger movements provide. However, despite the lack of official documents relating to LGBT issues, Reconstructionist Jews, as a whole, are fully committed to the inclusion of LGBT people in Jewish life.