International Gay & Lesbian Review

Queer Dharma: Voices of Gay Buddhism

• Nonfiction
• Publisher: Gay Sunshine Press
• Publication Date: 1998

“Queer Dharma: Voices of Gay Buddhism” edited by Winston Leyland and published by Gay Sunshine Press in 1998 is a seminal event for Gay Buddhists and for gay men on a spiritual path. For the Buddhist community it is only one among many books, but it does present a different perspective on the Dharma that up to now has been silent and unavailable to most gay men and Buddhists. The time was ripe to gather up the “pearls and diamonds” of experience from gay men living “eyebrow to eyebrow” with the Buddha and add them to our public knowledge so we can go to them at leisure to reflect on their experiences and our lives. This anthology emerged from a dialogue between the Gay Buddhist Fellowship in San Francisco and Winston Leyland, one of our members who has published other gay anthologies through his business Gay Sunshine Press, most recently on Japan in “Partings At Dawn: An Anthology of Japanese Gay Literature” and on Russia in “Out Of The Blue: Russia's Hidden Gay Literature.” GBF has over the past seven years generated articles from its members which were published in our newsletter. Winston knew of many other sources of gay Buddhist writings and from that point of departure went ahead with this anthology. A fair number of the articles in the collection are from GBF members. The selection of articles however is very broad, ranging from ancient writings with gay themes to real life experiences with the Dharma and on to Allen Ginsberg's poetry and gay erotic fiction with a Buddhist thrust. Perhaps of first note are the front and back covers of the book which echo a theme that runs throughout the book, “the interaction of traditional Buddhism with modern gay life. On the front, nestled on a bank of clouds there sits, in meditation, a handsome and perfect male body with a traditional Buddha head superimposed on it. Out of his shadowed groin emerges a white lotus giving off the white light of enlightenment. On the back are two nude gay men linked together in the traditional Tibetan “yab yum” sitting position on the reddest of lotus flowers. These are bold gay images with a traditional connection. In some parts of the U.S. and the world and for some readers a plain brown wrapper might be necessary. From the perspective of all other Buddhist book covers, it shocks, but delightfully so. Queer Dharma is filled with direct references to basic Buddhist teachings such as on suffering, impermanence, attachments, compassion, wisdom mind and awakening. However, this is not a Gateway designed for formal teaching, but rather an expansive Gateway to intuitive, passionate experiences lived by gay men in their everyday lives: stories about practicing with a lover or the grief and loss when people die; coming out to teachers and their support for experiencing your whole life fully without separation. Issan Dorsey, one of our first out gay monks, comes alive again here, obstacles to intimacy are explored and a youthful doomed relationship blossoms, dies and becomes part of the teaching we continually provide to each other. Poignantly, it reaches back to old Japanese stories of love between monks and young devotees and then we find ourselves in the recent past where we are one with the brisk human passion of Ginsberg as he “sits for world revolution.” This book is truly a banquet and smorgasbord of tastes touching on many common experiences we have as gay men. To read it leads you to experience parts of your own life again with a fresh perspective (Beginners Mind), but in a larger sense through these stories you join with all gay men as they interweave the dharma into their lives. Most selections pose dharma questions which have no easy answers. With some, you just experience without words; an immediate sense of sharing envelops you. It is a book that makes you want to practice more and open up to others to share your intimate experiences and questions. If used for dharma dialogue, it can be a way to build relationships with another person or in a larger group (Sangha). Queer Dharma is a wonderful contribution to ending the sense of separation we feel when we are alone on a spiritual path. This book should be on every gay man's bookshelf and be part of the path to Buddha which is your own true larger self.

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