Queer, trans, and intersex Buddhism: implications for culturally relevant social work practice

The role of queer, trans, and intersex people in Buddhism can be confusing for clients and needs clarification. There is precedent for queer inclusion throughout Buddhist traditions, time periods, and cultures, though there has been a great deal of discrimination against gender and sexually diverse communities. There is room for spirituality and social work to expand its understanding of Buddhism beyond mindfulness practices and literature on queer spirituality in social work is often limited to religions that dominate Europe and North America. This article examines histories of queer, trans, and intersex people in a variety of Buddhist traditions. Using a queer Buddhist hermeneutics the article discusses stories of queer and trans bodhisattvas in Buddhist scriptures. The article also discusses tonglen (compassion meditation) and its relationship with queerness, trauma, and HIV/AIDS. The article then explores deity yoga practices for non-binary and gender fluid Buddhist beings and meditations that can be affirming to queer communities. The article ends by discussing how multi-level social work praxis can support the development of a queer-engaged Buddhism steeped in what Dean Spade (2015) calls a trickle-up social justice praxis that embodies the brahma viharas (Divine Abodes).