LibraryScenariosWhen religious law excludes you from mourning rituals
Scenario

When religious law excludes you from mourning rituals

I'm gay and my partner died but because we weren't legally married his Orthodox family won't let me participate in sitting shiva and I don't know how to mourn him properly.

Mira
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More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

Traditional structures of grief can exile those whose love doesn't fit prescribed forms.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Jewish mourning — shiva shloshim yahrzeit?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.