Southern Baptists picket gay Jews

NEW YORK, July 9 (JTA) — Worshipers at the Sabbath morning services of the 15th World Conference of Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Jews were picketed by Southern Baptist protesters, according to participants in the meeting. The dozen or so Southern Baptist protesters stood outside Congregation Beth El Binah in Dallas on Saturday in a pouring rain, shouting at the worshipers to repent both for their homosexuality and their Jewishness, said Jack Gilbert, of London, president of the gay organization. The World Congress of Gay & Lesbian Jewish Organizations is the umbrella group for 65 gay, lesbian and bisexual Jewish organizations in North and South America, Europe, South Africa, Australia and Israel. Beth El Binah is a Reform congregation that caters to gay, lesbian and bisexual Jews. Some 300 people attended the conference, said Gilbert, which was held at Dallas’ Fairmont Hotel.