Ichi-Mi Holds First In-Person Seminar at GBC Since Pandemic

Attendees Explore What ‘Breaking the Silence’ Means to LGBTQ+ Community Within BCA Sanghas

FYI For more information, please contact Ichi-Mi at ichimi.gbc@gmail.com, as well as visit the Ichi-Mi link on the GBC website: bit.ly/3KTE6hV

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“For a long time, the experiences of our LGBTQ+ friends, family, and Sangha members have been and are met with silence. Silence isn’t neutral. It feels like an absence of support. It feels like a lack of recognition. Today, we are all here to change that.” 

These words were part of the message offered by Gardena Buddhist Church (GBC) President Ross Nishimura (he/him) to welcome everyone to GBC Ichi-Mi’s 2025 seminar “Breaking the Silence,” held on Aug. 9. 

With laughter and tears, thoughtfulness and hope, over 50 people gathered at GBC to explore what “breaking the silence” means to our LGBTQ+ community within our sanghas. 

Participation spanned from Gardena, Salt Lake City, Vista, Senshin, West Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, San Diego and Pasadena temples, as well as participants from overseas. 

The seminar was held for the first time with both Japanese and English sessions throughout the day. The seminar follows on the heels of Ichi-Mi’s successful 2023 film debut of “A Profound Silence,” which explores how not acknowledging the existence and struggles of LGBTQ+ individuals in our temples can be hurtful to its community members. 

To kick off the seminar, and as a pre-event, “A Profound Silence” was screened on Friday evening, Aug. 8, for participants who had not seen the film or wanted to view it again before the seminar. The screening was followed by a discussion session and social hour.

Saturday’s daylong seminar launched with five ministers and two Minister’s Assistants leading the attendees in the chanting of the Shoshinge. The ministers were: Rev. John Iwohara (he/him, GBC), Rev. Jundo Gregory Gibbs (he/him, Pasadena Buddhist Temple), Rev. Yukari Torii (she/her, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple), Rev. Ko’e Umezu (she/her, West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple) and Rev. Aki Rogers (they/them, Ryukoku University). And the two Minister’s Assistants were Alison Yasaki (she/her, GBC) and Noriko Kawai (she/her, Buddhist Temple of San Diego).

It is in the Shoshinge where the phrase “ichi-mi” can be found. Chanting was followed by Rev. Gibbs offering the keynote Dharma message, speaking on his appreciation of the theme of “Breaking the Silence” and of the Jodo Shinshu emphasis on total inclusiveness without exception in the Buddha-Dharma, and our need to realize this at each of our temples by providing safe spaces for our LGBTQ+ Sangha members. 

After the morning service, attendees participated in the first breakout session, “LGBTQ+ Terms and stereotypes geared towards family and allies.” 

Cheryl Kono (she/her, GBC) led the session for English-speaking participants, and the Japanese session was led by Keith Nishida (he/him, Okaeri-LA). 

For LGBTQ+ individuals, a closed-session support group was offered at the same time. 

The second activity was an intergenerational panel, moderated by Ichi-Mi co-president Irene Iwasaka (she/her), featuring four LGBTQ+ identifying individuals who have been active in their respective sanghas sharing what “Breaking the Silence” meant to them. 

For the third breakout session, the Japanese-speaking participants listened to Rev. Keisuke Lee-Miyaki (he/him, she/her, Buddhist Church of San Francisco) give a presentation in Japanese about his experience growing up in the Jodo Shinshu community in Japan, followed by a discussion moderated by Noriko Kawai. Concurrently, English-speaking participants participated in a self-reflective letter-writing activity led by Ichi-Mi member Bern Gross (they/them, GBC). 

Other activities that were offered during the day were nenju-making, as well as the opportunity for participants to be interviewed to share their voices for Ichi-Mi’s next film project. The day wrapped up with a closing service with participants chanting Juseige. 

Making temples a safe space for LGBTQ+ members was an important, commonly cited refrain. One participant shared, “The biggest concern that a lot of queer people have is safety … there is that fear that if I make a ‘mistake,’ that sometimes the result is violence, so you have to be certain.” 

Another common theme that emerged was the importance of LGBTQ+ ministers  and visible support from minister allies. Said one LGBTQ+ participant, “When I heard six ministers would be in the Onaijin, I cried. I mean, how special is that?” 

A third common reflection was the importance of the use of pronouns as an acknowledgement of LGBTQ+ existence as well as engaging in self reflection, keeping an open mind and heart, and an active willingness to learn.

The seminar committee hopes that all participants were able to leave the seminar with the sentiment that Nishimura shared at the seminar’s onset: "This seminar is all about the power of using our voices …. A simple clear voice can be a powerful tool for compassion and change. It’s how we support — we challenge prejudice and stand as allies. I hope we use our experiences today to practice and better hone our voices.”

The committee would like to thank GBC’s Buddhist Women’s Association (BWA)  and Adult Buddhist Association (ABA) for their heartfelt dana of providing refreshments, breakfast, and lunch to all the attendees.  Lastly, the seminar committee thanks the GBC board and Sangha, and all the participants who came out. Because of all of you, we were all able to share in a very special weekend of opening our hearts-and-minds, listening to the experiences and feelings of others, and receiving the teaching of the Nembutsu.

For more information, please contact Ichi-Mi at ichimi.gbc@gmail.com, as well as visit the Ichi-Mi link on the GBC website: bit.ly/3KTE6hV