Meet Megan Brantley
December 19, 2024 | People in Our Neighborhood
As a Queer young adult from a multi-faith family, Megan Brantley has a unique perspective on her work as a Community Connector. She seeks to find a place for people to embody their identities a both Queer and Jewish. From drag performances to her personal artwork, Megan has so much to share!
How did you become more involved with the Jewish community after growing up in a more secular, multi-faith family?
I have always known I was Jewish, and that I came from a family that escaped the Shoah in Poland. That story always stuck with me, especially my maternal grandfather’s story, who was the 1 grandparent I never met. As I got older, and started to see my peers go through B’nei Mitzvah and Confirmation, I felt like something was missing, so I would push my mom to celebrate Jewish holidays like Passover and lighting Chanukah Candles. I took an “Intro to Judaism” class in fall of 2019 and have been diving deeper since.
Why did you become a Connector for the LGBTQ+ Community?
As a queer Jew, we constantly wrestle with feeling like we don’t belong in either of our communities. Especially since October 7, 2023, it has become clear that in some Jewish spaces, you aren’t welcome if you’re LGBTQ+, and in LGBTQ+ spaces, you’re not welcome as a Jew, and especially a Jew who does not denounce Israel. In both spaces, you are only accepted if you minimize and alter either part of your identity. I became a Connector to bridge that gap and find other Queer Jews who I know have been feeling alienated and displaced from environments that used to be safe and welcoming.
What are you most excited about doing in your role as a Connector?
I am most excited to make relationships, events, and spaces for Jews like me (and their loved ones) to be able to feel not only safe, but brave to connect with each other, have dialogue, and feel belonging.
You were a drag king in college. What do you love about drag and how do you use that in your life today?
I love that drag is a space for exploration. You get to express parts of yourself that are usually suppressed by the rest of society. You can play with gender expression and identity, whether it’s through clothing, dance, music, and all of the above. Drag performers are leaders and conveners in the queer community and create space for the marginalized. It’s also just really fun and makes you feel like a rock star.
When you aren’t making connections in the community, what do you enjoy doing?
I love cooking, learning Jewish history, spending time with my family and friends, traveling, and creating Jewish art like mezuzah covers and cases.