When Congregation Beth Torah was founded in 1974 in Richardson, Texas, it stood apart as a beacon of egalitarianism. Built on a vision where women could lead, chant Torah, and serve as president, the synagogue has long carried the torch of inclusion. This year, that legacy has found bold new expression as Beth Torah makes history as its members march publicly and proudly in its first-ever Dallas Pride Parade.
At the heart of this moment is Katie Babin, the congregation’s first-ever Executive Director. Hired in April 2023, Babin quickly became both steward and catalyst for a new chapter of visibility and advocacy, alongside congregants and leadership.
“This congregation has always been deeply participatory,” Babin explains. “We’re a community where volunteers lead services, cook meals, and teach Hebrew school. So when congregants came forward asking, ‘Why aren’t we doing more for Pride?’—that question mattered.”
In June 2023, Beth Torah hosted its first Pride Shabbat, coinciding with the farewell of longtime Rabbi Elana Zelony. The event was intimate and unpublicized, uncertain of how it would be received. But the warmth and enthusiasm it inspired planted a seed. In 2025, that seed has blossomed into something much larger: the formation of J-Pride, a coalition of ten Jewish organizations walking together in the Dallas Pride Parade.
“It started with a few conversations,” says Babin, who also serves on the Social Justice Commission’s LGBTQIA+ subcommittee. “I spoke with Temple Emanu-El, with Makom Shelanu, and other leaders. Before long, this idea became something much bigger than just us—it became J-Pride.”
The coalition includes a diverse mix of organizations: Makom Shelanu Congregation, Temple Emanu-El, NCJW Dallas, StandWithUs, Hillels of North Texas, JCC Dallas, Congregation Beth El Binah, Temple Shalom, Keshet, and of course, Congregation Beth Torah. Together, they’ve coalesced under a shared banner of visibility, safety, and sacred intention.
Beth Torah’s participation carries particular significance as the only Conservative/Masorti synagogue in the group. “We are rooted in traditional Judaism,” Babin says, “and we believe that inclusion and tradition are not mutually exclusive. We are proudly both.”
This Pride weekend, Beth Torah will once again host its now-annual Pride Shabbat, a Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat service entirely led by congregants. Longtime members will set the tone, articulating shared values of being created b’tzelem Elohim, in the divine image.
“It’s not just the young people leading,” Babin notes. “But when they do lead, they’re showing everyone that the next generation cares. They care about Judaism. They care about belonging. They want to stay connected, and they want everyone to be welcome.”
For the parade, Beth Torah members will wear custom-designed t-shirts featuring the Hebrew phrase “Love is Love.” The synagogue’s rainbow-accented logo will be intentionally printed on the right sleeve, a nod to Jewish ritual and reverence.
“In Judaism, we act with intention,” Babin says. “That includes how we show up, how we march, and how we live our values out loud.”
This visibility matters more than ever. “Given the climate of our country right now,” Babin adds, “it’s vital for queer Jews to see themselves in our sanctuaries and in our streets. It’s important for everyone to know: you belong.”
For Congregation Beth Torah and the J-Pride coalition, this June marks a first. But it’s also a return: to their founding values of courage, inclusion, and collective dignity. And this time, it’s on full display.
