Sign The Eshel Pledge Petition!

The Eshel Pledge

Orthodox schools aim to be nurturing and supportive environments for all students. Eshel calls upon our high school administrations to adopt the Eshel Pledge or to create a similar set of policy statements that are known and understood by the whole student body. Hundreds of individuals have signed the Eshel Pledge!

NO EXPULSION
The school supports and respects all of our students. It will not expel, dismiss, suspend or otherwise discipline students for coming out and being open about their gender identity or sexual orientation.

NO BULLYING
No member of the school’s administration, faculty, or student body will be permitted to harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

NO REPARATIVE THERAPY
The school will not recommend, refer, or pressure students towards “reparative” or “conversion therapy.”

SUPPORT
The school will strive to connect students struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity with the support services that they need. If appropriate services cannot be found on school grounds, it will connect students with such opportunities outside of the school.

INTEGRATION
Being open about one’s sexual orientation will not preclude full participation in religious activities. The school will provide closeted, and “out” students with religious guidance as they need it, with staff who are trained to help teens manage the coming-out process and its integration with religious values.

OPEN ADMISSION
An applicant’s or a parent’s gender identity or sexual orientation will not have a negative impact on the admission process for the school.