“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
—Martin Niemöller
This quote hangs in the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. It is a quote that encompasses the theme for this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day-“Home and Belonging”. For thousands of years before the Holocaust there was a targeted effort to dehumanize the Jewish population, taking away the ability to feel safe in a place they called home and their overall sense of belonging. Taking away these two pieces of identity was the breeding ground for the targeted hate, disinformation, and eventual genocide of the six million Jewish people during the Holocaust.
Discrimination and disinformation can spread quickly when bystanders are silent in the face of hate, and this hate continues to the present day, in various forms to many groups. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “In the face of growing economic discontent and political instability, escalating white supremacist terrorism, and surging hate and religious bigotry – we must be more outspoken than ever,” drawing a parallel between the Holocaust and the present day.
May we all take today to remember the six million individuals who were victims to the Holocaust. Six million individual’s names, personalities, dreams, and lives that were taken by extreme hate. The theme of “Home and Belonging” should make us strive to do all we can do in the face of current hate and discrimination and remember we have the responsibility to take a stand against darkness. May we take every opportunity to create a space of home and belonging for every member of our Greater Louisville Community.
JFCS sends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Henry Spilman Berg-Brousseau. As Henry’s mother, Karen Berg, said in her statement, “The vitriol against trans people is not happening in a vacuum. It is not just a way of scoring political points by exacerbating the culture wars. It has a real-world implication for how transgender people view their place in the world and how they are treated as they just try to live their lives.” The US Census released their findings last week, showing LGBT youth and adults experience a higher level of anxiety and depression. This is something JFCS is passionate about fighting against.
JFCS Support Group for Parents of Transgender Youth
If you are the parent of a transgender youth or a child who is exploring their gender identity and would like to meet with other parents on how you can support your child, JFCS hosts a monthly support group on the third Monday of every month. To sign up for the Parents of Transgender Youth Support, go here and we will get you connected to the group.
As Human Rights Campaign CEO, Kelley Robinson said, “In honor of Henry’s life, we must come together and speak out against injustice. We must fight for our transgender family. We must celebrate his light, and honor him by continuing to fight for full equality for all.”
https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-honors-the-life-of-henry-berg-brousseau