The Gardena Buddhist Church’s Ichi-Mi organization is seeking donations in the next two months to create a video highlighting LGBTQ+ people and supporters from a variety of Shin Buddhist communities.
“Currently, there are not a lot of resources in our Buddhist communities in support of or discussing the issue of LGBTQ+ inclusion and safety,” said Amy Umezu and Marie Miyashiro, Ichi-Mi Co-Presidents. “As one of the goals of Ichi-Mi is to help educate temple Sanghas and affiliated organizations on improving LGBTQ+ inclusivity, Ichi-Mi has decided to create a video project to further that outreach.”
This video project is a multiphase project. The first phase of the project is to create a short video which aims to spotlight the voices of LGBTQ+ ministers, Sangha members, parents of LGBTQ+ children and supporters. It will cover their experiences within Buddhist communities, the need for more inclusive spaces to share in the Dharma, and offer suggestions on how Buddhist communities can improve toward establishing safe spaces for all to share in the Dharma.
The goal is for the video to be shown at educational workshops at individual temples and Sangha groups, for affiliated groups such as BWA, Jr. YBA, and Dharma School teachers, and for workshop sessions at regional and national seminars. In addition, Ichi-Mi hopes to make it available online on YouTube and other social media outlets.
The second phase of the project which will begin next year will be to create additional videos that will take a more in-depth look at the issues highlighted in the first short video.
Ichi-Mi is currently fundraising to cover production costs and is hoping to raise enough funds in the next month in order to qualify for a matching grant program.
To make a donation, send a check payable to: Gardena Buddhist Church. Memo line should read: Ichi-Mi Video Project.
Send donations to: Gardena Buddhist Church Ichi-Mi, 1517 W. 166th St., Gardena, CA 90247.
Ichi-Mi began in 2017 as a half-day workshop and evolved into a one-day seminar in 2018. Since 2019, Ichi-Mi has been an official affiliated organization of Gardena Buddhist Church.