He has served two terms as President of JAG and is the current Vice President. In 2014, JAG was acknowledged and included in the most representative Jewish Institution of Argentina, DAIA (Argentine Delegation of Israel Associations), and in November 2018, Gustavo was elected as a member of its Board.
Gustavo has been part of the World Congress: Keshet Ga’avah for over 10 years. In 2017, Gustavo was instrumental in the JAG partnering with the World Congress to host their annual board meeting, the first Shabatton in Buenos Aires, and a World Conference attended by representatives from seven countries. This conference was the first of its kind in Latin America.
In addition to serving as Vice President of the World Congress: Keshet Ga’avah, Gustavo uses his energies to foster the development of Communitarian policies in Argentina where he’s worked with others to become a beacon in Latin America, strengthening existing bonds and generating new lines of thought and work. One of his major accomplishments was working with political representatives in Argentina involved in the discussion of the Equal Marriage Law that was finally passed in July 2010. This success allowed him to marry Marcelo Robles in 2015, which Gustavo says can be considered one more step towards the: “Kol Israel arevim ze lazé” “Every Jewish is responsible for his fellow”
Gustavo is one of the protagonists of the Documentary, “One Among Others,” which is a film describing the story of four gay members of the Jewish Community in Argentina diversity initiatives.
Co-founder of the first Jewish reform community of Rome Beth Hillel. Founder and president of the first Italian LGBT+ Jewish association Magen David Keshet Italia.
Currently, volunteer operator at a hospital in Rome, for the anti Covid-19 vaccination campaign. Statement of purpose: • Continue the work I have been doing in the World Congress for several years. • Improve and strengthen the European network of LGBT+ associations and Jewish communities that are totally open and welcoming for LGBT+ people. • Support the President in his actions, in the search for new strategies to give more visibility to the World Congress, especially in Latin America and Europe where there is a lot of fertile ground that we can cultivate.
Scott was active with the World Congress of GLBT Jews from 1995 – 2000. After a long hiatus, he is very eager to reengage with the organization and connect the relatively small community of Albuquerque (ca. 22,000 Jews in the entire state) with the rest of the world and bring a more inclusive and diverse perception of Judaism to New Mexico.
From 1997 to 2009, he was an issue expert on independent living, long-term care, end-of-life, and workforce issues for AARP. He coordinated integrated education and advocacy campaigns for 14 states and was the Associate State Director of AARP Florida. Scott studied Philology at the University of Munich and received his BA in Linguistics from UNLV. He has an MA in German Studies and Critical Theory from the University of Arizona and completed his thesis at the Europäische Akademie Otzenhausen, Germany.
Steven is a past treasurer of Congregation Or Chadash in Chicago and served on the board of a Charitable Trust belonging to Temple Beth-El in San Antonio, Texas. This past year he served as the Communications Coordinator and Newsletter Editor for the World Congress: Keshet Ga’avah.
Franco’s career path has led them to event management. They work as House Manager at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, as well as Program Assistant at the Bayview Opera House. They also helped lead and plan events at their congregation, Sha’ar Zahav. They believe that proper execution of events is always predicated on proper planning, to ensure easy communication of tasks and expectations.
Being nominated to serve on the Steering Committee is an honor. Franco passionately believes in the mission of Keshet Ga’avah. They believe that supporting queer Jewish communities around the world helps strengthen all of us. By listening to the needs of each individual community, they believe that we can better help and allow them to grow and prosper. Franco lives in San Francisco with their partner.
I think I can bring the fresh energy and perspective learned from the emerging and young communities of Spain to this organization. My focus is be to continue the good work of my predecessors and further increase the sense of cohesion between all the organizations and communities that are part of the Eastern hemisphere within the World Congress. Fostering the sense of belonging to the World Congress will be key, as well as opening new communication channels and new ways to cooperate and help each other. Furthermore, I’d like to help create new partnerships with different players of the Diaspora Jewish world that could be beneficial for us. Finally, I think I could help bringing a less Ashkenazi-centric vision of Judaism. In order to bring us all closer together, I’d be interested in acting as a language & cultural bridge between the European and Latin American or emerging communities.
