VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 2 • June 2026
All Shining Equally With Light
An LGBTQ+ themed service at Hawai‘i Betsuin affirms acceptance, inclusion and the wisdom of the Amida Sutra
BY DEBBIE KUBOTA
COMMISSION ON BUDDHIST EDUCATION
In support of Honolulu Pride Month and as an expression of its commitment to welcome all, Hawai‘i Betsuin held its third annual LGBTQ+ Themed Service on Oct. 5, with the pride flag prominently displayed in front of the temple.
Reverend Shingo Furusawa presented a meaningful and inspirational LGBTQ+ themed Dharma message emphasizing one of the most important scriptures in the Hongwanji tradition, the Amida Sutra, with this important excerpt:
“In the Pure Land, lotus flowers of many colors are in full bloom.
The Buddha sees each of them as marvelous, beautiful, and shining with light. Just like those lotus flowers, we all have different appearances, personalities, and ways of life.
Yet, Amida Buddha sees all of us as equally shining with light. This means the Buddha always regards our lives as precious and valuable, no matter what happens, and embraces us just as we are. The Buddha’s teaching accepts everyone without discrimination.”
He encouraged us to “create a community where people with diverse values can live together in peace and harmony.”
Aiden Aizumi, co-author of “Two Spirits, One Heart,” was Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin’s guest speaker at the third annual LGBTQ+ service.
Rev. Furusawa’s message provided the perfect introduction to guest speaker Aiden Takeo Aizumi, a Japanese American trans man, adoptee, storyteller, and LGBTQ+ activist.
As a school counselor at Options for Youth Public Charter Schools, he is passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces where every student feels seen and empowered. Aiden serves as President of PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) in Pasadena and facilitates its youth group.
With his mother, the late Marsha Aizumi, Aiden co-authored the book “Two Spirits, One Heart: A Mother, Her Transgender Son, and Their Journey to Love and Acceptance.”
He has shared his journey across the country at schools, colleges, churches and corporations to build understanding and connection.
During his message, Aiden shared personal photos and described his journey about being born in Japan as a female, being adopted and raised in Southern California and feeling uncomfortable in his own body, to his transition to becoming a transgender man.
After the service, there was a Talk Story session in which Aiden was able to interact with and answer questions from attendees.
Sadly, after a battle with cancer, Marsha Ogino Aizumi passed away on Dec. 18 in Duarte, California at the age of 77.
The founder of Okaeri, a program of Little Tokyo Service Center in Los Angeles, Mrs. Aizumi was a native of Cleveland, Ohio and the wife of Robert (Ted) Aizumi.
Okaeri is a program that supports LGBTQ+ Japanese and Japanese American parents and friends of all backgrounds to explore resources to help build a community for LGBTQ+ Japanese Americans are allowed to be their full, authentic selves.