Queer Community
Listen to a talk by one of our trans priests-in-training as he talks about his journey to coming out and being a trans Buddhist clergy member.
We have a robust queer community here at Clouds and many of our teachers and priests identify as LGBTQ+.
Aligned with our Buddhist practice and ethics, we have a gender pronouns practice and statement on non-harming, gender-neutral bathrooms, and create a supportive environment where all bodies are welcome.
We take the safety of our members seriously, which is why we have an intentional practice around addressing concerns in the form of our Ethics and Reconciliation Committee.
Programming
Pronouns Practice at Clouds in Water
You may notice at Clouds in Water that the teachers and many of the participants list their pronouns along with their name on Zoom, or on their name badges when in person. We do this because respecting a person’s pronouns goes hand-in-hand with the practice of refraining from harmful speech, and creating a harmonious sangha in which we all feel seen, included, and understood.
Creating an inclusive sangha – and world – is part of our practice. We recognize that some people might not be in a place where they feel comfortable letting everyone know their pronouns, and that's fine. While sharing your own pronouns is optional, using other people's stated pronouns has a profound and cumulative impact on the wellbeing of our gender-expansive, trans and non-binary sangha members, and on the wellbeing of the sangha as a whole.
-Some of this language was drawn from the Zen Mountain Monastery website and we gratefully acknowledge their permission to make use of it in our sangha.
🌈 Queer Dharma Group 🏳️🌈
We’re meeting on the 3rd Friday of every month at Clouds from 6:30 - 8:30 pm for sitting, conversation, and community!
All are welcome. This is free, with a request of donating what you can.
We are a peer-led group which aims to discuss the Dharma in a queer and trans context.
We are open to anyone who is LGBTQIA2S+, regardless of partners, age, and identity, as well as those who feel such a group would benefit them.
We’ll meet for a meditation and a loosely guided discussion over tea and snacks.
Questions? :: info@cloudsinwater.org