Saturday, monthly, Queer Insight Dialogue Sangha

The Queer Insight Dialogue (ID) Sangha is a two hour drop-in online practice group for LGBTQIA+ identifying relational dharma practitioners around the world to share practice, experience, support, learnings, and care.

In addition to holding affinity space for practice, over time the Queer ID Sangha will also offer learning opportunities to the broader Insight Dialogue Community Sangha on how to foster authentically inclusive environments for relational practice. Our aim is for our global Insight Dialogue Community Sangha to become familiar with the issues facing our Queer members, increase understanding of current terms and definitions, and foster awareness of and care for LGBTQIA+ identities in relational practice, contemplations, and Sangha participation.

A note about use of gender pronouns:

A key condition for creating safe and inclusive practice environments for Insight Dialogue practitioners around the world of all sexes, sexual identities and gender identities is the respectful use of gender pronouns. We cannot always assume someone’s pronouns based on their appearance or name, and using incorrect pronouns can cause harm and make people feel disrespected or invalidated. Inviting participants to share their pronouns if they feel comfortable doing so, and then using correct pronouns consistently, demonstrates respect for one’s gender identity. This can determine within the first few minutes if someone will feel respected and safe enough to practice in a new community and with a new meditation partner. The Queer Insight Dialogue Sangha encourages all teachers, facilitators and practitioners to request and share gender pronouns in their introductions and on their Zoom screen names. The understanding of, education about and acceptance of gender identity and sexual orientation varies significantly around the globe, country by country. It is not our intention to create a space where anyone feels pressured to do anything – including to share their pronouns or gender identity if they do not wish to do so – and so it’s important to name that passing or refraining is always an option, as is the case in all aspects of formal Insight Dialogue practice.

On the “relative” level that we human beings live day-to-day, we have all taken uniquely different human forms, including our gender expression, sexual orientation, racial identities, neurodiversity, physical/mental abilities, etc. Non-dominant, marginalized populations suffer injustice, microaggressions and outright violence disproportionately due to systemic inequities, ignorance and hatred in manifesting in individuals in societies across the globe. Because we are not treated as equals in such societies, our conditioned experiences of safety with other people and in groups may be vastly different. This is why recognizing our specific positionality can help create a more inclusive and safe learning environment that acknowledges the conventional realities even as we aspire to practice with the deepest ultimate truths we all share.