In this profound Somatic Class, Jemarc Axinto – The Spiritual Geek – will be guiding participants
of the 3rd IQBC in a unique modality to safely navigate and experience Shadowy emotions. You
are meant to live in a world where you can feel all that there is to feel without attempting to fix or
fixate. Drop back into a response-able state of being by courageously inviting everything to live
within you. The Spiritual Playground is for you who is eager to know what it is to feel completely
embodied and outside of the realm of overthinking. Come and Awaken your Inner Diva and play
with Sangha in The Spiritual Playground

Jemarc Axinto (They/She/He) is a Filipinx, Nonbinary, Trauma Recovery, Creativity & Authenticity coach with a deep practice rooted in Vajryana Buddhism and a profoundly theosophic view of spirituality and wellness. They believe that the path to healing isn’t solely found in one space, but is about the deep integration of modern day science with ancient philosophy and wisdom. They have dedicated a decade of their life to the actualization of a mind, body, spirit balanced no longer withheld by trauma, labels, and roles. They’ve turned this deep study into an alchemical process to empower everyone they meet into actualizing their most authentic selves and radically rewiring their brains to heal trauma at its root in the nervous system.

Jemarc’s unique approach to healing is one that does not reject anyone so long as they keep their hearts open to the Brahmaviharas. They believe that healing isn’t about restricting oneself to one path, but rather about finding your own path on the path.

Drawing has been my lifelong personal exploration of curiosity, patience-testing and willpower. No one tells you how hard it is maintaining laser-focus whilst dealing with life’s challenges.

Free association is how I have best described my approach to work recently. It’s all the details (and even
vague memories) of times of joy and pain. The new techniques and the old ones that have stayed with me for as long as I can recall.

All I can offer is don’t doubt the reluctant strokes because those will probably inspire another piece.
Drawing is my meditation on purpose and faith. The faith that willed me to sketch one morning may be
the strength needed to see another medical opinion.

And yes, I’m queer, black and disabled. This intersectionality is relatively new because I’ve struggled with self-acceptance of the disabled part of my existence. It’s not who I am but in one too many occasions — having a disability challenged me as to why I don’t acknowledge that part of me. And as my practice
requires a huge degree of detail, I must bring to light to how it informs my practice.

Leaning on influences from undergraduate work to cityscapes from previous residents, the process is all
reflective but funneled down into this current aesthetic. It’s all abstracted traces from a confluence of
sketches. Ultimately, the end result is always a surprise because the spontaneity is the ride. Now, where it
ends up is all a game of problem solving and willpower.

Brandi “Noire” La Zard was raised in Houston, Texas. La Zard received her BFA (Individualized Film/Video/Performance and Drawing) from California College of the Arts in San Francisco/Oakland. Her work has been selected and featured in the Creative Quarterly, as one of the national finalists in the Fine Art Professional category for the No. 27 circulation. She’s also featured in WMN Zine publication dedicated to artists living with disabilities. Ms. La Zard exhibited work in the group exhibition Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series – Regional – Houston Museum of African American Culture, Houston, Texas. La Zard currently lives and works in Houston, Texas: „My work explores my life-long curiosity and fascination with form. Specifically, typography and architecture have directly influenced my artistic approach, aesthetic. The forms are created through free association; in addition, predetermined forms are used as the catalyst to develop the overall composition. My studies in graphic design, typography, architecture, abstract constructivism, and pop art have shaped my aesthetic, thus far, in the majority of works to date. Merging gestural mark-making with structured line-drawing dominates the overall composition. In this realm of competing styles of mark-making (gestural, precision mark-making), the works highlight the desire to create freedom, harmony, and balance between those worlds.“

Dr. Jampa Wurst studied comparative religion at Freie Universität Berlin, where they earned their PhD in 1999. In their studies, they conducted field work among Tibetan Buddhist nunneries in exile India. They was ordained twice with white robes in Theravada Buddhism. From 1991 – 1999 they studied at the Tibetan Centre in Hamburg the “7 Years Systematic Studies of Buddhism”. They finished with a certificate and earned a small yellow hat of the Gelug tradition, so similar to a teacher/acharya.

Furthermore, they is a lifelong member of Sakyadhita, has held regular workshops about LGBTQQIA+ at Buddhist Conferences.

As DJ Jampa Sausage, they invented Dharma Rap, a playful medium to stir interest in education, research, Buddhist, ethics, feminism, diversity, and politics.

On the artistic side, Jampa is not only a rapper but also a painter with more than 100 paintings in her digital atelier. Now, it is her pleasure to organize the International Queer Buddhist Conference.

15 min plus Q&A

In 2019, the author began a research project into the intersection of Buddhism and sexualities and sex/gender diversity among Australia’s LGBTQIA+ communities. In 2021, they presented the findings of the first stage of this project (i.e. online survey) at the first IQBC. Since then, the author has been undertaking the second stage of the project (i.e. in-depth interviews) and, to date, they have conducted interviews with 25 Australian LGBTQIA+ Buddhists. Although interviews are ongoing, the author would like to take this opportunity to present some preliminary findings. One theme that appears to be emerging is that some western Buddhist traditions are struggling to accommodate trans and non-binary practitioners, especially when those traditions enforce gender-segregation. Having said that, trans and non-binary practitioners also see this as an opportunity to start a conversation with their sanghas about what it means to be trans and non-binary and Buddhist.

Dr Stephen Kerry is a lecturer in sociology at Charles Darwin University (Darwin, Australia). Dr Kerry identifies as genderqueer non-binary, uses they/them pronouns, and has been part of Australia’s LGBTQIA+ communities for 33 years. Dr Kerry has published books on the lived experiences of intersex Australians and the health needs of trans and non-binary people living in Australia’s Norther Territory. Dr Kerry is a Zen Buddhist and is a member of the Melbourne Zen Group (Diamond Sangha tradition). They underwent their Jukai ceremony in 2019 and was presented with the Dharma name of 凉猿 (Liáng Yuán, cool monkey). Dr Kerry volunteers heavily in Australia’s LGBTQIA+ communities and is also a volunteer telephone counsellor,
they live in Melbourne with their two cats.

15 min plus Q&A

PhD Candidate – Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies, Western University
Instructor – Buddhism, Psychology, & Mental Health Program, University of Toronto
Research Manager – School of Nursing, York University
HIV & HCV Outreach Coordinator – Specialty Rx’s PrEPrx Clinics
Buddhist Grief Counsellor – Toronto Centre for Applied Buddhism,

After going over basic terminology about Gender, Sexual Orientation and LGBTQIA people in society, the growing prevalence of Non Binary identification is discussed.
The presentation highlights the societal stresses on TGNCNB youth and adults, and how those stresses are manifesting in the changing mental health statistics. We show how this minority stress correlates with intersectionality and hate crime.
Intersectionality and neurodiversity is examined and how it further relates to persecuted for being LGBTQ+. After showing the current GLSEN School Climate Survey, we will discuss techniques of how to advocate for someone who is being disrespected or bullied using ideas from the Zero Indifference Guide. After showing the disturbing trends in LGBTQ+ legislation across the US, Anthony will contrast the impact of recent New York State legislation that protects TGNCNB students from harassment, and the impact of the Gender Recognition Act.

Questions are welcomed during the presentation.

Anthony Arrien serves on the Board of Directors of both GLSEN Lower Hudson Valley and The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center in White Plains in New York. Tony is a 70 year old “out” transgender man who does presentations on trans and non binary identities and intersectionality at various conferences such as Philly Trans Wellness, Hudson Valley Trans Forum, First Event in Boston, PrideWorks at Pace University and TransLives: The Intersection of Health and Law in CT. He also has done workshops at public libraries, professional organizations and K-12 schools with GLSEN for students, faculty, staff and administrators. Tony has facilitated the LOFT’s Adult Transgender Peer Support Group since 2016 and has been an activist and advocate for LGBTQ+ issues and legislation in New York State. He lives in Putnam County and is active in meetings of the Westchester PFLAG Putnam Subchapter, and has spoken at Putnam Pride events and before School Boards in defense of those who would ban LGBTQ+ books from school libraries.

Tony is a Buddhist/Unitarian whose hobbies are Plein Air oil painting plus roller and ice skating. He was a former union gaffer in the NYC Film Industry for 25 years. He is also a filmmaker who has his own production company for the purposes of doing documentaries on subjects in astronomy and the environment. He is recently retired from a job in Community Media running a local government and educational access TV station in his
Town of Putnam Valley, NY. He still serves as Chairman of the Alliance for Community
Media of new York and is on the Board of the Alliance for Community Media North East Region. In his retirement he intends to keep working on legislation in New York State to create new funding streams from satellite and streaming revenues to support local media and local voices. He also hopes to do more travelling for his art and to do more LGBTQ+ cultural competency trainings to bring his lived experience to light, particularly for those who are open to learning about the minority stresses on TGNCNB individuals, for the sake of social justice.

This morning’s talk is being offered as a possible shining/guiding light of one person’s experience of accessibility & inclusiveness of the Buddhist path, from the viewpoint of a practitioner who shares a body with Neuro- divergence & disability. They will offer some insight & strategies that have helped them navigate this sometimes challenging, but essential inclusivity within, the Maha Sangha & beyond.

Sib:Yonten (they/them) is a self-ordained Buddhist monastic (2017) who’s root traditions are in the Tibetan Kagyu lineage (2008). Though from 2014 has been following teachings of Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh & the Plum Village tradition. His walking of the Buddha’s path started in 1999 when he attended 3-day Lojong teachings in London, offered by the HH 14th Dalai Lama. He’s a disabled person, a military veteran & part of the LGBTQIA+ community also is the representative for PVUK’s newly forming ‘Inclusion circle for Disability and Neurodiversity’.

In this profound Somatic Class, Jemarc Axinto – The Spiritual Geek – will be guiding participants of the 3rd IQBC in a unique modality to safely navigate and experience Shadowy emotions. You are meant to live in a world where you can feel all that there is to feel without attempting to fix or fixate. Drop back into a response-able state of being by courageously inviting everything to live within you. The Spiritual Playground is for you who is eager to know what it is to feel completely embodied and outside of the realm of overthinking. Come and Awaken your Inner Diva and play with Sangha in The Spiritual Playground

Jemarc Axinto (They/She/He) is a Filipinx, Nonbinary, Trauma Recovery, Creativity & Authenticity coach with a deep practice rooted in Vajryana Buddhism and a profoundly theosophic view of spirituality and wellness. They believe that the path to healing isn’t solely found in one space, but is about the deep integration of modern day science with ancient philosophy and wisdom. They have dedicated a decade of their life to the actualization of a mind, body, spirit balanced no longer withheld by trauma, labels, and roles. They’ve turned this deep study into an alchemical process to empower everyone they meet into actualizing their most authentic selves and radically rewiring their brains to heal trauma at its root in the nervous system.

Jemarc’s unique approach to healing is one that does not reject anyone so long as they keep their hearts open to the Brahmaviharas. They believe that healing isn’t about restricting oneself to one path, but rather about finding your own path on the path.