Kurlander Program for Gay & Lesbian Outreach and Engagement (GLOE) 

Past Programs

National Equality March
October 11, 2009
GLOE marched with Keshet in the National Equality March, decked out with t-shirts, signs, rainbow flags, and chants to fight for equal rights for LGBTQ people.

Queer Simchat Torah
October 10, 2009
GLOE put on a party full of food, drink, and dancing to celebrate Simchat Torah with queer Jews of all ages who were in town for the National Equality March the next day.

GLOE Shmini Atzeret/Shabbat Dinner
October 9, 2009
GLOE kicked off the Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah weekend with a shabbat dinner, welcoming LGBTQ Jews from all over the country who were in town for the National Equality March.

Come OUT and Decorate the Sukkah
October 4, 2008
LGBT families came out and came together to play games and decorate the 16th Street J's sukkah with a healthy dose of donuts and apple cider.
Presented in partnership with Early Childhood, Youth & Families.

LGBTQ Ballroom Dancing
September 23-October 15, 2009
GLOE learned to step, shimmy, and sway in the sixth LGBTQ ballroom dance class.

What Happened in 5769--Stays in 5769
September 22, 2009
Rabbi Jesse Gallop helped GLOE explore theological and personal perspectives on forgiveness as a Jewish value in time for the new year.
Presented in partnership with the Leo & Anna Smilow Center for Jewish Living and Learning.

Fourth Annual GLOE Pool Party
August 23, 2009
Attendees cooled off from the summer heat with this annual tradition.

5th Annual Night OUT at the Nationals
July 20, 2009
GLOE and Team DC teamed up for a night of baseball fun at this fourth annual event.
Co-sponsored with Team DC.

LGBTQ Club Latin Dance
July 9-30, 2009
GLOE learned to salsa and merengue the night away in the first-ever Club Latin class at the Washington DCJCC, and then showed off their new moves at Havana Village in Adams Morgan.

GLOE Mah Jongg Class
June 17-July 1, 2009
GLOE learned how to play Mah Jongg with instructor Trish Kent in a sold-out three-week series.
Presented in partnership with Jewish Living & Learning.

Capital Pride 2009 Festival
June 14, 2009
GLOE and Nice Jewish Girls, Nice Jewish Boys, and Gayyim united to reach out to the LGBTQ DC Jewish community.

Capital Pride 2009 March
June 13, 2009
GLOE marched in the Capital Pride March for the second time while dancing Hava Nagila and singing "Who let the Jews out?" in the streets.

The Kinsey Sicks Concert
March 11-25, 2009
The Kinsey Sicks, the hilarious dragapella quartet, performed at the Washington DCJCC.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Music Festival.

Ivri Lider Concert with GLOE Meet & Greet Reception
June 2, 2009
Ivri Lider performed at the 9:30 Club in DC and GLOE met with him beforehand for some intimate conversation and discussion.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Music Festival.

LGBTQ Ballroom Dancing
May 7-June 4, 2009
GLOE learned how to swing, cha-cha, and foxtrot in the fifth sold-out LGBTQ ballroom dance class.

GLOE Book Talk with Author Lev Raphael
April 22, 2009
Author Lev Raphael spoke about his new book My Germany with GLOE at the Goethe-Institut Washington.
Co-sponsored with the Goethe-Institut Washington, the Metro DC GLBT Community Center, and the American Jewish Committee.

2nd Annual Stonewall Seder
April 1, 2009
GLOE held its second annual LGBT Seder at the HRC Equality Center.
Co-sponsored with the Human Rights Campaign.

LGBT Mah Jongg Class
March 11-25, 2009
GLOE learned how to play Mah Jongg with instructor Trish Kent in a sold-out three-week series.
Presented in partnership with Jewish Living & Learning.

Return of Masquerade & Mischief Purim Party
March 7, 2009
GLOE put on its third annual Purim party, with a drag Purim Schpiel and a performance by the DC Kings, complete with music, drinks, costume contest, dancing silhouettes and balloon arches.

LGBTQ Ballroom Dancing
February 5-March 5, 2009
Participants learned how to swing, cha-cha, and Viennese waltz in the fourth sold-out LGBTQ ballroom dance class.

You Had Me at Shalom
January 31, 2009
GLOE got together for a sold-out, smash-hit evening of same-sex Jewish speed-dating, the first event of its kind in the DC area, with music, food, eight speedy first dates, and our very own match-making Yenta.

D25 with Jewish Foundation for Group Homes
December 25, 2008
GLOE joined the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, a non-sectarian, non-profit organization which provides support and services for adults with disabilities in the DC metro area, for some quality time at the Home, singing, socializing and playing games.
Presented in partnership with the Morris Cafritz Center for Community Service (MCCCS).

Stefan Braun
December 18, 2008
GLOE screened the Israeli documentary Stefan Braun, an intimate portrait of Tel Aviv's top furrier in the 1950s and 1960s and the underground gay society to which he belonged, as part of the Washington Jewish Film Festival.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival.

Mom, I Didn't Kill Your Daughter Screening and Panel
December 8, 2008
GLOE screened the Israeli film Mom, I Didn't Kill Your Daughter, a poignant documentary about two transgender teenagers in Israel, as part of the Washington Jewish Film Festival. A panel discussion and reception followed the screening.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival.

All Fired Up for Chanukah
December 7, 2008
LGBT families decorated pottery just in time for Chanukah.
Presented in partnership with Early Childhood, Youth and Family.

Kosher Wine Tasting Class
November 19, 2008
GLOE learned all about assessing the body, hips and legs of a variety of kosher wines in the relaxing atmosphere of the 16th Street J's art gallery.

Shabbat Dinner with the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes
November 14, 2008
GLOE enjoyed a shabbat dinner with the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes, a non-sectarian, non-profit organization which provides support and services for adults with disabilities in the DC metro area.
Co-sponsored with Jewish Foundation for Group Homes.

Election '08: Agenda? What Agenda?
October 26, 2008
GLOE participated in a political discussion with Robert Zimmerman, Democratic National Committeeman and CNN contributor, and Jimmy LaSalvia, Director or Programs & Policy for the Log Cabin Republicans, with Dan Raviv, national correspondant for CBS News, moderating the discussion.
Co-sponsored with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC).

LGBTQ Ballroom Dancing
October 23-November 21, 2008
Participants learned how to cha-cha and foxtrot in the third sold-out LGBTQ ballroom dance class. For the first time, both beginner and intermediate classes were offered.

Reel Affirmations Film Festival
October 19, 2008
GLOE screened two films, HaSodot (The Secrets) and Antarctica, as part of Reel Affirmations Film Festival, the annual DC-area LGBTQ film festival.
Co-sponsored with Reel Affirmations Film Festival.

Interfaith LGBT Couple Class
October 16-23, 2008
Dr. Marion Usher, renowned interfaith couples instructor, conducted a class for LGBT interfaith couples.

Come OUT and Decorate the Sukkah
October 12, 2008
LGBT families came out and came together to decorate the 16th Street J's sukkah with a healthy dose of ice cream sundaes.
Presented in partnership with Early Childhood, Youth & Families.

GLOE Night with Sandra Bernhard
September 25, 2008
Award-winning Sandra Bernhard revived her first Broadway hit, Without You I'm Nothing, her landmark one-woman show, for GLOE. A reception with Sandra followed the show.
Presented in partnership with Theater J.

Litfest with Author Andrea Askowitz
September 21, 2008
Andrea Askowitz came for a brunch discussion of her book, My Miserable, Lonely, Lesbian Pregnancy.
Presented in partnership with the Hyman S. & Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival.
Co-sponsored with Rainbow Families, DC.

Kick-Off of Monthly Volunteering at Food & Friends
September 15, 2008
GLOE volunteers helped out in the kitchen of Food & Friends to prepare food for people living with AIDS and other life-challenging illnesses for the first of our monthly volunteering.

Third Annual GLOE Pool Party
August 24, 2008
Attendees cooled off from the summer heat with this annual tradition.

LGBTQ Ballroom Dancing
July 10-31, 2009
Participants learned classic Ballroom & Latin dances in this sold-out LGBTQ ballroom dance class.

4th Annual Night OUT at the Nationals
June 23, 2008
GLOE and Team DC teamed up for a night of baseball fun at this fourth annual event.
Co-sponsored with Team DC.

Capital Pride 2008 Festival
June 15, 2008
GLOE and Nice Jewish Girls, Nice Jewish Boys and Gayyim united to outreach to the LGBTQ DC Jewish community.

Capital Pride 2008 Parade
June 14, 2008
GLOE made its debut appearance at the Capital Pride Parade while dancing Hava Nagila in the streets.

The Voice of a Sage: Rachael Sage & the Sequins with Opener Mara Levi
June 4, 2008
Award-winning East Village pianist, singer, songwriter and poet, Rachael Sage took the stage by storm at DC9 with local sensation Mara Levi.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Music Festival.

GLOE Night with David in Shadow and Light
May 15, 2008
GLOE and Theater J joined together for a playdate for this world premiere musical with a meet and greet with the actors after the show.
Presented in partnership with Theater J.

LGBTQ Ballroom Dancing
May 1—29, 2008
Participants learned how to foxtrot, rumba and cha-cha in this debut sold-out LGBTQ ballroom dance class.

Stonewall Seder
March 30, 2008
The DC LGBTQ Jewish community experienced its first Stonewall Seder together in the nation's capital.
Co-sponsored with the Human Rights Campaign and the DC GLBT Community Center.

Masquerade & Mischief Purim Party
March 22, 2008
Friends, neighbors and complete strangers joined together for a night of mystery, masks and mischief with a drag Purim schpiel and a special performance by the DC Kings.
Co-sponsored with Bet Mishpachah, Nice Jewish Girls, Nice Jewish Boys and Gayyim.

GLOE Night with Judy Gold in 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother
February 21, 2008
Emmy-award winning Judy Gold and GLOE enjoyed an evening together. A talkback with Judy and reception followed the performance.
Presented in partnership with Theater J.

Super Sunday
January 27, 2008
GLOE participants placed phone calls to raise money for the Jewish community and made sandwiches for a local food pantry.
Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

December 25th Day of Service
December 25, 2007
Volunteers from GLOE spent the afternoon at Father McKenna House, a drop in shelter for men, serving lunch and visiting with residents.
Presented in partnership with the Morris Cafritz Center for Community Service.

Jerusalem is Proud to Present
December 9, 2007
This film was the Winner of the Outstanding Documentary Feature Award at Outfest 2007.  GLOE participants engaged in a discussion with Sa'ar Netanel, Member of the Jerusaelm City Council, before the screening of the film.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival and co-sponsored by the Embassy of Israel.

World AIDS Day Service
November 30, 2007
GLOE and Bet Mishpachah joined together at a special service honoring the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day along with two blocks of the AIDS quilt.
Co-sponsored with Bet Mishpachah.

Daniel Mendelsohn's The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million
October 14, 2007
Author Daniel Mendelsohn spoke about his narrative, a deeply personal account of a search for one family among his larger family that was killed by the Nazis. A reception with Mr. Mendelsohn followed the event.
Presented in partnership with the Hyman S. & Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival. Co-sponsored with the PEN/Faulkner Foundation

Andre Aciman's Call Me By Your Name
October 9, 2007
Author Andre Aciman engaged in a conversation of his novel about a romance that blossoms between 17-year-old Elio and 24-year old Oliver at his parents' house on the Italian Riviera. A dinner reception with the author preceded the event.
Presented in partnership with the Hyman S. & Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival.

Pre-Literature Festival Book Club Gathering
October 2, 2007
Participants joined together for an intimate discussion of Andre Aciman's novel Call Me By Your Name and met other GLOE book lovers a week before hearing the author speak at the Hyman S. and Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival.

Sipping in the Sukkah
September 30, 2007
A kosher wine tasting accompanied snacking and schmoozing in the sukkah.

The Bubble
September 24, 2007
This film by Eytan Fox examines three young Israelis, two guys and a girl, that share an apartment in Tel Aviv's hippest neighborhood. Trying to put aside political conflicts and focusing on their lives and loves, these progressive 20-somethings are often accused of living in a sort of escapist bubble.
Presented in partnership with the Screening Room.

Trembling on the Road House Party
September 20, 2007
Trembling on the Road is a dramatic document of dialogues, protests, reactions and events from the worldwide tour of Trembling Before G-d, the documentary film built around intimately-told personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian reconciling their passionate love of Judaism with the drastic Biblical prohibitions that forbid homosexuality. Trembling on the Road documents how the film profoundly touched and transformed the lives of individuals, their families, communities, rabbis and teachers.

2nd Annual GLOE Pool Party
August 12, 2007
Attendees cooled off from the summer heat with this annual tradition.

3rd Annual Night OUT at the Nationals
July 16, 2007
GLOE and Team DC teamed up for a night of baseball fun at this third annual event.
Co-sponsored with Team DC.

Brown Bag Lunch with Tomer Heymann
June 18, 2007
Director Tomer Heymann and GLOE participants engaged in a lively discussion about his film Paper Dolls.

My First Big Gay Jewish Wedding
June 16, 2007
GLOE honored Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson with the first GLOE Leadership Award for his work advancing the argument that same-sex couples can celebrate their unions under the chuppah. Rabbi Toby Manewith, Rabbi Bob Saks and Rabbi Jeffrey Wohlberg joined for a lively discussion. Wedding-style reception with live music followed the award and discussion.

Capital Pride 2007 Festival
June 10, 2007
GLOE hosted a booth and outreached to the Jewish LGBTQ community at the 32nd annual Capital Pride Festival.

Gold 'n' Pride with Ari Gold
June 7, 2007
Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer and gay icon with an unlikely orthodox background, Gold is the first man in his genre to sing love songs explicity to another man.
Presented in Partnership with the Washington Jewish Music Festival.

GLOE Playdate with Sherry Glaser in Family Secrets
March 22, 2007
Jewish lesbian Sherry Glaser performed on stage her one-woman show Family Secrets. A talkback and post-performance reception followed the show.
Presented in Partnership with Theater J.

Preschool Purim Party
March 4, 2007
A spirited Purim celebration took place with games and prizes, arts and crafts, Purim treats and a Purim puppet show.
Presented in partnership with Early Childhood and Family
Co-sponsored with Bet Mishpachah.

GLOE Purim Party
March 3, 2007
A night of celebrating, socializing, dancing, and eating hamantaschen took place at this first annual event with a special costume and drag parade.
Co-sponsored with Bet Mishpachah, Nice Jewish Girls, Nice Jewish Boys and Nice Jewish Men

Book Talk with Marla Brettschneider
January 28, 2007
Author Marla Brettchneider discussed her book and the topic of LGBT adoption with GLOE attendees.

December 25th Day of Service
December 25, 2006
Volunteers from GLOE spent the afternoon volunteering at a local DC social service agency.
Presented in partnership with the Morris Cafritz Center for Community Service.
Paper Dolls

Paper Dolls
December 10, 2006
First place winner at the 2006 Berlin Film Festival, this documentary follows five Filipino transsexual migrant workers, each in a different stage of gender transition and often referred to by their feminine names, who have emigrated to Israel to work as health care providers for elderly, Orthodox Jewish men. The workers run a drag group called "Paper Dolls" in Tel Aviv nightclubs until the immigration police deports them, and they are forced to leave the country.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival.

Lover Other: The Story of Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore
December 6, 2006
During WWII, Jewish stepsisters Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore gained notoriety and made headlines time and again - not simply because of their unapologetic, quasi-incestuous lesbian involvement with one another, but thanks to their subversive anti-Nazi operations. Documentarist Barbara Hammer recounts the lives of Cahun and Moore with this documentary film.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival.

Wrestling with Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner
December 5, 2006
A feature documentary film about the Pulitzer and Tony-Award winning playwright, Tony Kushner. The film tells the story about the evolution of an artist raised in the Deep South in Lake Charles, Louisiana, that would become an outspoken activist, a compassionate spokesperson for outsiders, and one of today’s most entertaining and important playwrights.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival. 

Florentine
December 3, 2006
Florentine is the first Israeli TV show that has gay people as main characters. The show is about post-army 20+ people living in Florentine in Tel Aviv. A discussion with Director Eytan Fox followed the screening.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival.

Walk on Water
December 2, 2006
Eyal, an Israeli Mossad agent, is given the mission to track down and kill the very old Alfred Himmelman, an ex-Nazi officer, who might still be alive. Pretending to be a tourist guide, he befriends his grandson Axel, in Israel to visit his sister Pia. The two men set out on a tour of the country during which, Axel challenges Eyal's values.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival.

The Washington Jewish Film Festival Decade Award
December 2, 2006
Award was presented to Israeli out director Eytan Fox. A GLOE reception followed the award ceremony.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival.

GLOE Shabbat Dinner with Director Eytan Fox
December 1, 2006
GLOE hosted a Shabbat dinner with GLOE participants and Director Eytan Fox.

Yossi and Jagger
November 30, 2006
A sociological study of two men in the Israeli army who are lovers. The others in the unit react to their situation, suspecting, but not always understanding.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Film Festival.

A Passion for Fashion
October 18, 2006
GLOE participants and Gesher City came together to schmooze, to drink and to watch the series finale of Project Runway.
Presented in partnership with Gesher City DC.

Dual Identity: Reflections on Gay Jewish Life
September 17, 2006
How do you connect two strong and sometimes conflicting identities? How do you explore these identities through writing? Authors Michael Lowenthal (The Same Embrace, Avoidance and Charity Girl), Leslea Newman (Heather Has Two Mommies and A Letter to Harvey Milk) and Lev Raphael (Dancing on Tisha B'Av) discussed the intersections of Jewish and gay or lesbian identity during brunch.
Presented in partnership with the Hyman S. & Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival.

1st Annual GLOE Pool Party
August 27, 2006
Attendees cooled off from the summer heat for this first time annual tradition with friends, fun and food.

2nd Annual Night OUT at the Nationals
August 8, 2006
GLOE and Team DC teamed up for a night of baseball fun at this second annual event.
Co-sponsored with Team DC.

Variations on a Theme with Marilyn Lerner and Adrienne Cooper
May 21, 2006
World-renowned pianist Marilyn Lerner and vocalist Adrienne Cooper explored their partnership on both a musical and a personal level, while openly exploring their identities as gay Jewish musicians. GLOE participants joined these artists for an enlightening musical brunch and discussion.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Music Festival.

Capote-Breaking the Mold: Truman Capote's Place within the Shifting Views of Homosexuality in the 1960s
May 7, 2006
GLOE joined Theater J for its Artistic Director's Roundtable discussion with Hans Johnson (president of Progressive Victory), Sonya Michel (Professor of American Studies and History at the University of Maryland) and James McCourt (best selling author of Queer Street).
Presented as part of the GLOE Inaugural Weekend.

Faith-Based Politics: How It Impacts the Jewish Gay Community
May 7, 2006
Congressman Barney Frank joined Rabbi Steve Greenberg, Dan Furmansky (Executive Director of Equality Maryland) and guests for lunch and a lively panel discussion.
Presented as part of the GLOE Inaugural Weekend.

GLOE Playdate with Bal Masque
May 7, 2006
GLOE and Theater J joined together for the world premiere of two-time Pulitzer finalist and 2003 Tony Award winning playwright Richard Greenberg's Bal Masque. Being both gay and Jewish, Greenberg brings a particular point of view to the shifting cultural and sexual norms of 1960s America. Havdallah and a reception followed the show.
Presented as part of the GLOE Inaugural Weekend.

DC Minyan Shabbat Service
May 6, 2006
GLOE joined DC Minyan for a Shabbat morning service with Rabbi Steve Greenberg delivering the Dvar Torah. Kiddush luncheon and study session led by Rabbi Greenberg followed.
Presented as part of the GLOE Inaugural Weekend.

Kabbalat Shabbat
May 5, 2006
GLOE hosted a Kabbalat Shabbat followed by a GLOE Shabbat dinner, Bet Mishpachah's Shabbat service and a GLOE Oneg. Rabbi Greenberg led the Kabbalat Shabbat creating a unique spiritual welcome for Shabbat and delievered the sermon during the Shabbat service.
Presented as part of the GLOE Inaugural Weekend.

GLOE Date with Betty Rules
January 12, 2006
GLOE and Theater J teamed up for a musical date with Betty. After the show, theatergoes enjoyed wine, dessert and conversation with peformers Alyson Palmer, Amy Ziff and Elizabeth Ziff.
Co-sponsored with Theater J.

Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School
December 11, 2005
This film tells the story of Shulamit Izen, a ninth grader who sets out to organize a gay-straight alliance at her Jewish school. What begins as one student's mission engages an entire community in an open discussion concerning a culture of tolerance and inclusion.
Co-sponsored with Beth Mishpachah and Reel Affirmations.
Presented in partnership with the Washington Jewish Music Festival.