Why I Stopped Boycotting Israel and Converted to Judaism! Trans Pioneer & TV Writer Our Lady J

She converted to Judaism yesterday! This week on Being Jewish, Jonah Platt interviews transgender activist, Emmy-nominated TV writer-director (Transparent, American Horror Story, Pose), and musician Our Lady J (Yona Speidel), less than 24 hours after she formally converted to Judaism. She describes her 12-year path, the beit din with three rabbis, her written reflection on Isaiah 56 and intersex identity, her mikvah immersion, and why she chose the Hebrew name Yona. She recounts growing up Mennonite, losing trust in organized religion amid homophobia during the AIDS crisis, and later returning to spirituality through Judaism. The conversation addresses unconscious antisemitism, queer-community susceptibility to “they” conspiracies, and rising antisemitism in LGBT spaces after October 7. She discusses BDS (The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement) pressure on Transparent, later learning German courts found BDS antisemitic, and argues for fact-based definitions of Zionism, while saying she is pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli. Follow Our Lady J on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ourladyj/?hl=en 00:00 - Introducing Our Lady J 02:13 - A Twelve-Year Conversion Journey 06:17 - Spirituality and the AIDS Crisis 10:46 - Jewish Community and Social Issues 13:50 - BDS and the Queer Community 17:15 - Writing for Hollywood and Inclusion 21:40 - Finding Solace in Prayer 29:10 - Family Roots and Religious History 32:45 - Music and Spiritual Expression 38:14 - The Experience of the Mikvah 41:25 - Lightning Round 44:20 - Final Reflections on Faith 55:00 - Concluding Thoughts and Farewells Topics discussed include: - The emotional experience of completing the Beit Din and mikvah after a 12-year spiritual journey - Guidance from three rabbis during the conversion process - The significance of Isaiah 56 and its message welcoming eunuchs, and those who might not have a binary identity of sex or gender - Growing up in an ex–Old Order Mennonite Christian background and early perceptions of Jews - The evolution of Lady J’s identity through names like Justin, Jonah, and Yona, and their biblical significance - Influence of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, pioneer of trans medicine in Berlin (1909), on understanding antisemitism and queer history - How Nazi book burnings in the 1930s destroyed Hirschfeld’s research at the Institute of Sexology - The intersection of antisemitism, transphobia, and homophobia throughout European and modern history - The rise of antisemitism within the LGBTQ community following October 7 and shifting attitudes toward Israel - Lady J’s experience working on Transparent (Amazon Prime Video) - Referencing activist Larry Kramer and ACT UP in discussions of queer organizing and Zionist parallels - The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on spiritual reflection, including cross-country travel and research in Berlin archives - Jewish values of perseverance illustrated through Torah learning, including lessons about continuing even when struggling Thank you to our sponsor - Jewish Communal Fund - https://jcfny.org #BeingJewish #JewishConversion #LadyJ #TransgenderJudaism #JonahPlatt #Antisemitism #LGBTQJewish #Mikvah #JewishPodcast #TransActivist #IsaiahScripture #JewishIdentity