LGBTQ+ rights

Victory Through Persistence: Yeshiva University Finally Recognizes LGBTQ+ Student ClubAfter years of legal battles and emotional advocacy, Yeshiva University has agreed to officially recognize an LGBTQ+ student club, marking a historic moment in the fight for inclusion within religious educational institutions.As reported by AP News, the student group, named Hareni (Hebrew for "Behold me"), will now be permitted to operate under university-approved guidelines shaped by senior rabbis. This compromise represents a meaningful, if complex, victory for LGBTQ+ students who have long felt sidelined in faith-based academic spaces.The road here wasn’t easy. In 2022, Yeshiva made headlines by refusing to recognize the group, sparking national debate over the intersection of religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Students and allies responded with protests, court filings, and community organizing that kept the issue in the public eye. While some critics argue the university’s conditions may limit the group’s autonomy, many see this decision as a significant step forward.This development matters far beyond the walls of Yeshiva University. It sets a precedent and sends a message: that LGBTQ+ people deserve space and recognition, even within institutions traditionally resistant to these conversations. It’s a reminder that change often comes slowly — but it does come, especially when people fight for it with courage, grace, and persistence.As Hareni begins this new chapter, it carries the hopes of students past and present who dared to say, “We belong here too.”