One year after a historic Pride mission to Israel, a new report from the Jewish Federations of North America finds that LGBTQ+ Jews are eager to deepen their involvement in Jewish communal life, but many continue to face barriers that make sustained participation difficult.
 

The survey found that interest in Jewish engagement among LGBTQ+ Jews is still exceptionally strong. However, participation often depends on whether individuals feel genuinely welcomed, supported, and able to bring their full identities into Jewish spaces.
 

Respondents also described a growing need for Jewish spaces where they do not have to choose between any aspects of their identity, said Nate Looney, Jewish Federations’ Director of Safety & Belonging.
 

“The findings make clear that LGBTQ+ Jewish engagement is not a niche issue — it is core to our communal infrastructure,” Looney said. “At a time when many LGBTQ+ Jews are experiencing antisemitism in broader LGBTQ+ spaces while also navigating challenges within Jewish communal settings, the need for meaningful belonging has never been greater.” 

Conservative estimates suggest there are between 400,000 and 550,000 LGBTQ+ Jews in North America, representing a significant and growing segment of the Jewish community, particularly among younger generations. According to the Pew Institute, 25% of Jews under 30 are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
 

The report, which is based on responses from 136 LGBTQ+ Jews across more than 60 cities in North America, comes at a pivotal moment for Jewish communal life. Following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel, Jewish Federations’ research found that 43% of American Jews sought deeper engagement in Jewish life, driven by a desire for connection, solidarity, and belonging. The survey of LGBTQ+ Jews connected to the Federation system, was conducted between January 21 and February 28, 2026.
 

Among the report’s key findings: 

• Nearly 90% of respondents identified LGBTQ+ Jewish gatherings as their primary entry point into Jewish life. 
• 87% identified LGBTQ+ Jewish identity and community as a primary area of interest, making it the strongest driver of engagement.  
• 78% preferred relationship-based experiences such as social gatherings. 
• More than half reported barriers to participation related to accessibility, cost, intersecting identities, or a lack of visible LGBTQ+ leadership. 

Many respondents cited the need for explicitly safe LGBTQ+ Zionist spaces in addition to opportunities to engage in dialogue across difference.
  

At the same time, Federation data shows that participation among historically marginalized Jews — including LGBTQ+ Jews, Jews of Color, Jews with disabilities, and financially vulnerable Jews — has declined more rapidly than among the broader Jewish population.
 

Successful engagement depends less on the quantity of programs offered and more on how experiences are structured and supported. Survey participants consistently identified relationship-building, accessibility, psychological safety, and visible inclusion as key factors influencing whether they remain connected to Jewish life.
 

The findings also underscore important leadership implications for the Jewish community.  LGBTQ+-specific engagement serves as a critical pipeline for identifying and cultivating future lay leaders, making investment in LGBTQ+ Jewish engagement essential to the long-term strength and resilience of North American Jewish life.
 

“This report shows that LGBTQ+ Jews are not disengaging because they lack interest,” Looney said. “They are looking for community, connection, and belonging. The opportunity before us is to build the structures, relationships, and leadership pathways that ensure they can fully participate in — and help shape — the future of Jewish life.”