International LGBT Buddhist conference centres programme on human rights and ethics

Organisers of the sixth International Queer Buddhist Conference (IQBC), scheduled for 30 October–1 November 2026 on Zoom, included human rights, Buddhist ethics and LGBT wellbeing in the programme. The German Buddhist Union outlined these themes in its announcement on 12 October.

The programme is titled “Law – Precepts – Thriving”. Organisers proposed examining how laws and religious rules affect queer people’s lives. Attendance was advertised as free, with voluntary donations; registration on the event’s Luma page is now closed.

The opening keynote on human rights and Buddhist precepts was assigned to lawyer Carol Merchasin. She specialises in cases involving abuse in religious and spiritual communities. According to her law firm, McAllister Olivarius, Merchasin took charge of its new practice addressing sexual misconduct in such organisations in 2022.

The published schedule includes talks on loneliness among older LGBT Buddhists, self-compassion and support for people harmed within religious communities. A separate workshop addresses how communities can respond to such experiences with attention to those affected.

The programme also provides for a Buddhist service with meditation and recitation, discussion of the Five Precepts and a panel of monastics from different traditions. The panel description emphasises how religious practice and spiritual friendship can support meaningful lives for LGBT people.

The initiative was founded by religious studies scholar Jampa Wurst. According to the organisers’ biography, Wurst earned their doctorate at Freie Universität Berlin in 1999; annual IQBC meetings date from 2021.

Uránia previously reported plans to establish an African research collective on LGBT issues and theology. The initiative was discussed at a meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, addressing LGBT people’s place in theological education.