[JaK_MarkoV_Pi]

This is an except from an account of a meeting between HHDL and LGBT activists. This occurred in 1997. I believe that HHDL has been moving towards a more tolerant position in terms of what scripture permits and prohibits. These statements show that he's at least willing to examine the context in which these prohibitions were conceived in.

The private meeting between representatives of the lesbian and gay community and the Dalai Lama was described as "warm and relaxed."

The Dalai Lama also expressed interest in the insights of modern scientific research on homosexuality and its value in developing new understanding of Buddhist texts that nix homosexual activity, participants said.

Reiterating in the private meeting that he did not have the authority to unilaterally reinterpret Buddhist scriptures, the Dalai Lama also urged those present to build a consensus among other Buddhist traditions and communities to collectively change the understanding of the Buddhist scriptural references on sexuality for contemporary society, according to a joint statement issued by participants.

During the meeting, the Dalai Lama also candidly acknowledged that he did not know the foundations of scriptural proscriptions against sexual activity or where they originated, Peskind said.

Participants also said the Dalai Lama expressed the "willingness to consider the possibility that some of the teachings may be specific to a particular cultural and historic context."
HHDL also stated the following:
From a "Buddhist point of view," lesbian and gay sex "is generally considered sexual misconduct," the Dalai Lama told reporters at a press conference a day earlier.

However, such proscriptions are for members of the Buddhist faith - and from "society's viewpoint," homosexual sexual relations can be "of mutual benefit, enjoyable, and harmless," according to the Dalai Lama. I think this greatly clarifies HHDL's view on this subject. He refuses to ignore Abhidharma materials and Gampopa and others out of respect for those works; on the other hand he's always stated that scientific proof always trumps scriptural assertion. As in the case of the earth being flat, for example. And he's open to re-evaluation on this issue in light of new scientific discovery.

There's far more evidence now than in 1997 that homosexuality is greatly influenced, if not outright determined, by genetics rather than learning or choice. I hope that HHDL's views continue to evolve. After all it took people like him to finally get Tibet's backward lamas to even accept that the earth was indeed....a sphere (Ok....oblate spheroid).