Can a person be Jewish and gay? I have a friend who is both gay and a religious Jewish person. They identify as gay. Now I am a non-judgmental person, but some people outside of the faith have said that they will go to hell for being gay. What should I do for my friend?

Firstly, our Jewishness is unconditional, for it's not just a religion but also our nationality. Accordingly, all Jews are "Jewish", even if totally non-religious. There are many drives in man, all of which must be directed, controlled and used for good, and not bad. The mussar ethical literature teaches that one can learn to control even such strong and “natural” drives such as selfishness, violence, and anger, and in the army we are trained even to overcome our instinct to survive and charge (not hide from) the enemy fire for the sake of our nation. That’s what free-will, or life in general, is about. The Torah is the Manufacturer’s handbook to guide man how to get the most out of our lives, by defining objectively, and for all generations, what is the positive, as opposed to the negative, use of each drive, and not to constantly change values based upon temporary and confusing fads. Accordingly, sexual attraction is a beautiful drive, meant to be used positively to build a family, establish continuation of the generations and the world, and help provide meaningful companionship with “the other” gender, who’s difference is meant to complete and help us, providing and teaching us in that which we lack. In every place mentioned, the Torah sees homosexuality as a ‘to’eva” (Vayikra 18, 22; 20, 13), an abomination, or a disgusting use of a beautiful and loving drive, so it obviously can’t be considered a possible Torah life-style. Just as if a person would have a sexual attraction to his sister or an animal, he is meant to overcome it and direct that drive or urge towards a positive, creative and constructive venue, to aid developing a lasting, meaningful and loving family life. Having homosexual relations is in fact a very serious sin, especially for men. It's similarly clearly wrong to "flaunt" and take "pride" in the prohibited transgressing of Shabbat or demonstratively eating pig which would also be severe wrong-doings. When one transgresses a prohibition in private it's wrong, but to be proud and parade it in the name of Judaism is also a Chilul Hashem, a public desecration of God's Name, and makes it that much worse. If a person privately has gay tendencies but doesn't actively have relations with another man, and doesn't parade his tendencies publicly and spitefully, keeping them personal, that would be okay. I would explain to your friend and suggest that his tendencies and how much more so his forbidden actions (if there are such), should be kept to himself. On the other hand, even if he doesn't listen, he should continue observing Shabbat and as many positive & negative Jewish laws as possible, for "2 wrongs don't make a right". All of us make mistakes, but we shouldn't brag about them. Only God decides who goes to heaven and who not, and He surely takes into account the confusion taking place in our generation regarding gender identity. Every individual must sincerely do his best to follow the ideals and mitzvot of God.