A year ago, Missouri lawmakers passed legislation banning gender-affirming care for kids. LGBTQIA+ activist Chelsea Freels was one of many young St. Louisans impacted by the legislation.

Freels, 18, a recent graduate of Clayton High School and member of Central Reform Congregation, came out as transgender in June of 2021. Since then, she has been actively involved in LGBTQIA+ activism. 

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“[The] Missouri State Legislature…decided a year or two ago that their top priority was transgender kids,” Freels said. “I was a transgender kid at the time who they were targeting by trying to take away my health care.”

In January 2022, Freels traveled to Jefferson City to share her testimony with the state legislature for the first time. Freels has continued to do so for the past three legislative seasons. 

Freels’ activism has not gone unnoticed. Last school year, she received the Margaret Dagen Social Justice Award for her dedication to advocacy for social justice. Freels was also selected as a 2024 Courage Scholar by the Missouri Courage Scholarship, an LGBTQ scholarship organization that recognizes students for displaying courage and taking a stand for social justice.

“I feel like I’m being recognized,” Freels said. “I feel like my accomplishments are being noted, which is good. It’s a great feeling.”

While advocating for transgender rights at the state capital, Freels was accompanied by her parents. She also interacted with many other activists, including congregants from CRC. 

“Everybody at the Jefferson City hearings was very welcoming,” Freels said. “I was treated with kindness and respect.”

After connecting with CRC congregants at the state capital, Freels started exploring Judaism. She began studying Torah and other Jewish texts.

“I really love the Jewish way of interrogating texts,” she said. “[One of my favorite lines from the Mishnah is], ‘The world stands upon three things, upon truth, upon justice and upon peace.’ I like it because… it’s the ideals of what we’re supposed to be looking on.”

In addition to embracing Jewish learning, Freels found ways to become involved in the Jewish community. She began helping with audio/visual production at CRC while also attending synagogue services.

“I wanted to see the people that were willing to help me out,” Freels said. 

After careful consideration, Freels converted to Judaism this past year. Throughout the process, Freels was supported by the Jewish community as well as her parents.   

“[My parents] are supportive and very accepting,” Freels said. “They want to be a part of my life, and I appreciate that.”

From attending their daughter’s mikvah to celebrating Hanukkah together, Rene and Kyle Freels actively supported their Chelsea’s choice to convert to Judaism. 

“[CRC has] lifted Chelsea up, and they’ve provided a space for her,” she said. “I just want to say thank you to CRC for doing that. That just means so much.”

Freels will attend the University of North Carolina Asheville in the fall. There, she plans to continue advocating for transgender rights while practicing Judaism.