She converted to Judaism yesterday! 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 in a Mennonite household, 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.
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 this episode's sponsor:
MENTIONS
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Lady J First day of Judaism post
Our Lady J’s Film and TV Credits
The Beit Din (Rabbinic Court) and Conversion
‘Transparent’ Writer Our Lady J: Hollywood ‘Needs to Put Stories Into the Hands of Trans People’
What is a eunuch in the Bible?
Snapshots of an Epidemic: An HIV/AIDS Timeline
Queer Jews Forced into a Different Closet: Antisemitism and Conditional Acceptance
“Through Science to Justice”: The Story of Magnus Hirschfeld, a Gay Jewish Trailblazer
Germany Declares: BDS is Antisemitic
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Written and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producers: Steve Hein, Jonah Platt, Chief Business Officer: Kenyon Laing, Chief Marketing Officer: Katya Chen, Production Manager/Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associates: Rachel Stern, Charlie Zuker, Production Interns: Sasha Nelson, Emma Webb, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editor: Gray Clevenger, Joe King. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt
