Buddhist clerical stole - LGBTQ rainbow okesa

An okesa is a type of robe worn by Buddhists. This stole, part of the okesa and worn by Rev. Ronald Kobata (Resident Minister of the Buddhist Church of San Francisco, or BCSF), expresses support of the LGBTQ community. Designed by BCSF member Yasuko Fukuda, the rainbow okesa features rainbow stripes and two patches on either side with the BCSF symbol. The stole was first introduced during the 2013 San Francisco Pride Parade; BCSF has been a parade contingent since 2013.

Prior to his residency in San Francisco beginning in 2009, Rev. Kobata served as a “temple minister” in the White River Buddhist Temple in Washington and Hawaii Betsuin, Kahului Hongwanji, and Makawao Hongwanji, all in Hawaii. In addition to his participation in the Japanese American Religious Federation, Japanese Community Youth Council, and San Francisco Interfaith Council, he also works with the LGBTQ community.

The Buddhist Church of San Francisco, founded in 1898, is the oldest Jodo Shinshu (also known as Shin Buddhism, which does not rely on an ascetic or esoteric lifestyle to reach higher spiritual states) temple in the continental United States. In their own words (via BCSF’s web page on July 20, 2016), BCSF “enjoys a sense of growth beyond the traditional distinctions of culture, ethnicity and identities to realize the meaning of sangha as a community of people dedicated to living in the Light of Dharma and the Life of Nembutsu.” Also within BCSF’s community, the BCSF Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQQ) group is “a safe and supportive environment that seeks to promote the programs and practices of BCSF, to foster personal and interpersonal connections, and to engage in inclusive community building.” BCSF members participate in pride parades/events and encourage inclusivity in the broader community. Historically, BCSF has ties to the LGBTQ population, as they began performing gay marriages in the early 1970s. For more information on the link between the LGBTQ community and the Buddhist Churches of America, see “A Big Gay History of Same-sex Marriage in the Sangha,” by Jeff Wilson (http://tricycle.org/trikedaily/big-gay-history-same-sex-marriage-sangha/).

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