Special Offering

Invitation to practice with Pride: BZC at the Brooklyn Twilight Pride Parade

June 13, 2026

7:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Location
Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade
227 5th Ave
Brooklyn, New York 11215
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Description

Saturday June 13 will be the Twilight BK Pride Parade, part of the 30th annual Brooklyn Pride celebration, beginning at 730pm. This is happening the same weekend as the Creating Healing Rituals Together retreat co-led by Dr Paula Arai and Sarah at BZC.

We see Pride events as both celebration and reclamation of LGBTQI+ identities, as well as real world community healing rituals- made possible by the tremendous effort of LGBTQIA+ ancestors and present day advocates, responding to both long histories and ongoing enactment of trauma, marginalization and violence toward LGBTQIA+ people.

While BZC deeply values and strives to be a place of refuge for all people – including our many identities, sexual orientations and relationships, and gender expressions, we still have much work to do in sangha to create a culture of care, pathways for feedback, and ongoing learning together in community about being truly inclusive.  Sometimes acts intended as solidarity can feel performative and inconsistent with the lifelong practice of true humility in caring for one another across identities.

So this year we want to invite everyone in our Sangha into a practice of self-reflection around this community healing ritual.  We offer these questions to reflect on to determine whether to march in the parade, or to cheer on in support.

 

Please consider marching with the BZC contingent if:

You identify as LGBTQIA+ or someone you closely love or care for has been impacted by sexual or gender based violence. 

And we welcome our closest allies to march with us. Maybe you are a parent who has fought for your trans child’s right to medical care; or a close friend who held our hand as we faced a new terror. Or if you’ve been questioning whether you are queer or trans ‘enough’ to march with us, we welcome you to explore your identity by marching with us!

 

And please consider coming to cheer on the marchers if:

You are aware of the impacts of sexual or gender based violence, and want to contribute your presence to this resistance. You’ve mostly learned about this violence via media and reports about people’s past experiences, and want to take your next step to be present for this resistance. Bring your body (and march signs?) to cheer on our marching contingent from the packed sidewalks! 

 

We also ask everyone who is not personally impacted to consider and commit to one action beyond the parade to offer safety, protection, dignity and care to LGBTQIA+ people in our Sangha and in our communities, to stretch the healing actions of Pride beyond the parade and beyond the month of June.

 

*There are a limited number of Pride version BZC t-shirts available for a suggested donation of $25. Please put your t-shirt size in the notes on the registration.

 

Location: in Park Slope, along 5th Avenue from Lincoln Place and Eighth Street

For those marching: the parade begins at 7:30, but we will gather earlier and let everyone know by email by the Friday before.

For those cheering on: we will set an intersection for BZC Sangha members to gather together

We will let everyone who registers know these details by email by Friday 6/12

 

Thank you for taking up this practice invitation, for celebrating all  LGBTQIA+ people (including ourselves), and for helping our Sangha grow as a refuge for all beings,

Sarah, Dawn and the DQT practice Sangha (=Dharma Queer and Trans Sangha, formerly Queer Dharma Share) 

 

QT BZC logo design by Kiran Puri

 


Stay Connected with BZC!

  • Subscribe to our mailing list for monthly newsletters and weekly agendas here.
  • Join the BZC Community Listserv for news and updates on offerings. Request to join the listserv here.

 


Donations

BZC relies on donations to sustain its spaces, teachers, and staff. Learn more about supporting us here.

 


Health & Wellness Policy

Our health and wellness policy for all visitors has been updated for our current post-pandemic times while still prioritizing community care.

Please see BZC’s Updated Health & Wellness Policy for more information.

Fee
No fee
Questions?
info@brooklynzen.org
We are in an historical building which is not wheelchair accessible. There are two flights of stairs leading to the center, located on the second floor. Chairs, benches, and extra support cushions are available. If you have any additional questions about accessibility, please contact us at info@brooklynzen.org.
Invitation to practice with Pride: BZC at the Brooklyn Twilight Pride Parade
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