Mingyur Rinpoche on LGBTQ+ Rights

Five years ago, Mingyur Rinpoche met with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) members of the Tergar community. They shared their painful experiences of discrimination and “hate speech” (defined by the United Nations as public expressions that spread, incite, or justify hatred against people based on their race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, etc.) and the support they have found in the Buddha’s teachings. Their courage in facing hatred and injustice – often within spiritual communities – remains as vital as ever, reminding us that the work of equality and inclusion is ongoing.

Rinpoche affirms that the Buddha’s teachings are for everyone and that true compassion means actively confronting prejudice, rather than remaining silent. He emphasizes that LGBTQ practitioners deserve safety, support, and the freedom to bring their whole selves to the path. Meditation, he teaches, is not just about personal transformation but also about recognizing one’s biases, dismantling harmful judgments, refraining from hate speech, and fostering a community where all are genuinely accepted.

In the spirit of Engaged Buddhism, resisting homophobia within our sanghas is not separate from the broader work of reducing suffering in the world. The actions and attitudes cultivated in spiritual communities ripple outward, shaping the societies we live in. While compassion toward those who harbor prejudice is essential, it is also crucial to recognize that homophobia has real-world consequences, from everyday discrimination to acts of violence, including mass murder. As Rinpoche reminds us, wisdom and compassion must not only be contemplated in meditation. It must be lived in our speech, actions, and relationships.

Mingyur Rinpoche's full letter can be read here

"Mingyur Rinpoche addresses Tergar’s Support of the LGBTQ community"