This past weekend, while Vancouver celebrated Pride, I found myself thinking less about the parade and more about the people I am privileged to work alongside every day.

For years, and especially since October 7, we at Jewish Federation of British Columbia have heard from queer Jewish community members grappling with a painful reality. People who once felt entirely at home in Pride spaces no longer felt certain they could show up as their full selves. Some worried about displaying a Magen David. Others worried about expressing their connection to Israel. Many spoke about feeling increasingly isolated in communities where they had once experienced unquestioned acceptance.

These were not isolated conversations. We heard them repeatedly. In one on one meetings. At community events. In private conversations. And increasingly from people who felt trapped between identities that had never before been in conflict.

Earlier this year, research from Jewish Federations of North America found that LGBTQ Jews are seeking more than inclusion. They are seeking belonging. They are looking for communities where they do not have to choose between different parts of their identity. Reading those findings, I immediately recognized the conversations we have been having in British Columbia for years, and especially since October 7.

By the time Pride arrived this summer, it had become impossible to ignore what many queer Jews were telling us: being invited to participate is not the same thing as feeling safe enough to do so.

At the center of this story is my colleague, Caryl Dolinko, our Director of Communications and Marketing at Jewish Federation of British Columbia.

I could not be prouder of her.

Caryl did not simply help create our campaign. She helped build Pride itself. Before joining our team, she served as Director........

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