There’s a helpline made for LGBTQ+ Jews — and it’s reachable by text, call, and email.
The JQ Helpline is the only US resource and support line dedicated to serving LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies. Completely free and always confidential.
Messages are fielded by our clinical team, all of whom are LGBTQ+ or allies and trained to provide customized support from Monday through Friday. Some callers ask for a list of affirming synagogues or medical providers. Others need a referral for a mental health professional or even a lawyer.
No matter their reason, each person dials the number, sends the text, or drafts the email because they’re looking for safe resources — people and places that can be trusted by LGBTQ+ Jews, a dual identity that should be met with open arms but often isn’t.
The rise in transphobia and antisemitism has largely driven the 85% jump in JQ Helpline calls this past month. On the receiving end of some of those calls: Kimberly Bronstein, a Helpline volunteer. She often has to think on her feet to provide callers with the best possible resources for their situation.
“LGBTQ+ Jews deserve to be heard and supported,” Kimberly said. “This is a safe space where they can ask questions, voice their concerns, and get help in real time.”
To point callers in the right direction, Kimberly and the other volunteers have a curated list of LGBTQ+ Jewish resources, which they keep on hand during their shifts. The list is regularly updated with new, vetted resources by Tal Lerner Cohen, another volunteer.
“There are spaces out there that turn people away because their last name is ‘too Jewish’ or because they’re openly queer. We have to know who our friends are,” says Tal. “And we do that research for our community. We connect them with the spaces and places that are friendly towards LGBTQ+ and Jewish people. ”
Kimberly and Tal are part of a cadre of Angelenos who run the JQ Helpline, which launched in 2014. This past year, a mix of volunteers and staff have answered 250 calls from eight countries: America, Israel, Iran, Germany, Pakistan, India, Turkey, and Uganda.
More than 70% of the callers identified as LGBTQ+, and many were seeking mental health resources or financial support.
One recent caller was buckling under financial strain. Very soon, she told a volunteer, she would have to make a choice: pay rent or buy food.
Her new job would start the following month, giving her time to undergo and recover from a gender-affirming procedure. JQ was able to help her find resources, and she was reimbursed for rent and groceries. The next month, she was back on her feet.
To be on the other end of a call like this one — and to get the caller the support they need in that moment — is a responsibility and an honor, says Laura Ticho, who oversees the JQ Helpline as part of her role as our Director of Support and Wellness.
“We’re helping our community, no matter what they’re going through,” Laura says. “When support comes from someone who has been through the same or similar experiences, it’s more meaningful and more impactful.”
For support, call or text 855-JQI-HLPS (855.574.4577) or email Helpline@JQinternational.org. The JQ Helpline is not a hotline, crisis line, or suicide prevention line. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, please chat, call, or text 988.
Answering the call: JQ Helpline connects LGBTQ+ Jews to affirming resources
