He told the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion he was embraced by the LGBTQIA+ community when he came out as gay as a teenager, but the experience was markedly different when he told loved ones of his religious conversion.

"When I began the process of telling people that I was embarking on this Jewish journey, I lost a significant number of friends,"

he said.

"It was quite horrific actually."

Benjamin F said he no longer felt safe in "progressive" circles and spaces, with his former friends calling him Jewish slurs and labelling him a supporter of genocide.

"It's lonely," he said.

I'll keep this in mind