Thailand takes a leap towards marriage equality, but more work needed for trans rights
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An historic victory for LGBTQI+ rights: Thailand to legalize marriage equality
There are moments in history that spark change on a global scale, change that ripples outward and truly makes the world a better place. As I write to you now, I am thrilled to say: this could be one of those moments. Today, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize marriage equality …
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Celebrating Pride in Thailand! Join AJWS grantees in the streets of Bangkok
On June 1, on the eve of Thailand passing an historic law to legalize marriage equality, thousands of people hit the streets in Bangkok to celebrate queer joy, diversity and community. AJWS grantees, including TransEqual and the Foundation of Thai Transgender Alliance for Human Rights (Thai TGA), were part of a massive parade winding through …
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Village vs. Coal Mine: Defending a sacred forest in Thailand
In the verdant, mountainous Omkoi district of Thailand, the Indigenous Karen community is gripped in a battle over the land they have lived on for generations. The 4,258 people living in the village of Kaboe Din trace their lineage far before the existence of modern land deeds—and even the Thai nation itself. The villagers are …
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Aung Myo Min
Ebbing the flood of suffering after the Southeast Asian tsunami
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Dvar Tzedek
Va’etchanan
This Dvar Tzedek was adapted from Ruth Messinger’s talk for JDOV, a program that invites interesting and creative thinkers to give “the Jewish talk of their life.” Watch the full video of Ruth’s talk here. Parashat Va’etchanan includes the words of the Sh’ma[1]—a prayer so important, that many Jews recite it twice a day. Our …
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After describing a series of laws dealing with property, damages, injury and other torts, our parsha concludes the section with a final warning: “Do not oppress the stranger; you know the feelings of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.[1] Explaining the seemingly odd placement of this verse, Rabbi Shimshon Refael …
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