yes because next we have Nana she’s currently a senior at the international
currently a senior at the international
currently a senior at the international school of Sacred Heart and she’s going
school of Sacred Heart and she’s going
school of Sacred Heart and she’s going to introduce to us the situation of
to introduce to us the situation of
to introduce to us the situation of situation and lack of support for the
situation and lack of support for the
situation and lack of support for the lgbtq+ community in Japan right now
lgbtq+ community in Japan right now
lgbtq+ community in Japan right now she’s also going to talk to us about
she’s also going to talk to us about
she’s also going to talk to us about what led her to finding a gay rights
what led her to finding a gay rights
what led her to finding a gay rights activism Club at her school all right
[Applause]
[Applause] imagine a society in which our
imagine a society in which our
imagine a society in which our discriminated against because of your
discriminated against because of your
discriminated against because of your sexual orientation
sexual orientation
sexual orientation imagine being continually subjected to
imagine being continually subjected to
imagine being continually subjected to cold stares imagine having the
cold stares imagine having the
cold stares imagine having the government against you how would you
government against you how would you
government against you how would you feel before I explain the main points of
feel before I explain the main points of
feel before I explain the main points of my speech I would like to share a
my speech I would like to share a
my speech I would like to share a personal story with all of you one of my
personal story with all of you one of my
personal story with all of you one of my father’s close friends a gay man before
father’s close friends a gay man before
father’s close friends a gay man before moving to San Francisco lived in Japan
moving to San Francisco lived in Japan
moving to San Francisco lived in Japan for over a decade
for over a decade
for over a decade during his stay he tried to date and
during his stay he tried to date and
during his stay he tried to date and have relationships with men however
have relationships with men however
have relationships with men however could not stand emotional pain and
could not stand emotional pain and
could not stand emotional pain and burden of the unaccepting Japanese
burden of the unaccepting Japanese
burden of the unaccepting Japanese society towards same-sex relationships
society towards same-sex relationships
society towards same-sex relationships the the personal price that he paid for
the the personal price that he paid for
the the personal price that he paid for being a gay man in Japan was to relocate
being a gay man in Japan was to relocate
being a gay man in Japan was to relocate to gay friendly San Francisco where he
to gay friendly San Francisco where he
to gay friendly San Francisco where he didn’t need a face continued
didn’t need a face continued
didn’t need a face continued discrimination and Prejudice because of
discrimination and Prejudice because of
discrimination and Prejudice because of his sexual orientation ladies and
his sexual orientation ladies and
his sexual orientation ladies and gentlemen what does my story illustrate
gentlemen what does my story illustrate
gentlemen what does my story illustrate my school story illustrates a
my school story illustrates a
my school story illustrates a significant social problem that Japan
significant social problem that Japan
significant social problem that Japan holds today the lack of acceptance and
holds today the lack of acceptance and
holds today the lack of acceptance and awareness of the LGBT community in Japan
Japan’s lack of acceptance and awareness
Japan’s lack of acceptance and awareness of the gay community is profound and
of the gay community is profound and
of the gay community is profound and widespread as an example a New York
widespread as an example a New York
widespread as an example a New York Times article featured a transgender man
Times article featured a transgender man
Times article featured a transgender man who – ooyama stating we simply want the
who – ooyama stating we simply want the
who – ooyama stating we simply want the right to be with the person we love his
right to be with the person we love his
right to be with the person we love his simple yet powerful quote reveals the
simple yet powerful quote reveals the
simple yet powerful quote reveals the emotional pain and burden the LGBT
emotional pain and burden the LGBT
emotional pain and burden the LGBT community endures in Japan as a result
community endures in Japan as a result
community endures in Japan as a result of the oppas
of the oppas
of the oppas as a result of the unaccepting japanese
as a result of the unaccepting japanese
as a result of the unaccepting japanese society towards same-sex relationships
and so why is there so much resistance
and so why is there so much resistance in accepting the LGBT community in Japan
in accepting the LGBT community in Japan
in accepting the LGBT community in Japan well the primary reason is because both
well the primary reason is because both
well the primary reason is because both Prime Minister Abbott and the Liberal
Prime Minister Abbott and the Liberal
Prime Minister Abbott and the Liberal Democratic Party strongly opposes
Democratic Party strongly opposes
Democratic Party strongly opposes same-sex marriage in Japan but before
same-sex marriage in Japan but before
same-sex marriage in Japan but before explaining this I would like to point
explaining this I would like to point
explaining this I would like to point out that 1 in 20 people of the Japanese
out that 1 in 20 people of the Japanese
out that 1 in 20 people of the Japanese population is thought to be gay that is
population is thought to be gay that is
population is thought to be gay that is ladies and gentlemen 5 percent of the
ladies and gentlemen 5 percent of the
ladies and gentlemen 5 percent of the Japanese population which is over 6
Japanese population which is over 6
Japanese population which is over 6 million people and and I asked how many
million people and and I asked how many
million people and and I asked how many of you have come across openly gay
of you have come across openly gay
of you have come across openly gay couples in Japan probably not many in my
couples in Japan probably not many in my
couples in Japan probably not many in my experience I’ve never come across any
experience I’ve never come across any
experience I’ve never come across any openly gay couples here my experience
openly gay couples here my experience
openly gay couples here my experience contrast to whenever I visit gay
contrast to whenever I visit gay
contrast to whenever I visit gay friendly with 2 whenever I visit a gay
friendly with 2 whenever I visit a gay
friendly with 2 whenever I visit a gay friendly states such as California where
friendly states such as California where
friendly states such as California where openly gay couples are commonplace and
openly gay couples are commonplace and
openly gay couples are commonplace and this stark contrast made me realize the
this stark contrast made me realize the
this stark contrast made me realize the impact of the government of the
impact of the government of the
impact of the government of the government’s opposition towards same-sex
government’s opposition towards same-sex
government’s opposition towards same-sex marriage and the problem actually begins
marriage and the problem actually begins
marriage and the problem actually begins with article 24 of the Japanese
with article 24 of the Japanese
with article 24 of the Japanese Constitution which states marriage shall
Constitution which states marriage shall
Constitution which states marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of
be based only on the mutual consent of
be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes with equal rights of husband
both sexes with equal rights of husband
both sexes with equal rights of husband and wife as a basis and notice that the
and wife as a basis and notice that the
and wife as a basis and notice that the words of both sexes husband and wife are
words of both sexes husband and wife are
words of both sexes husband and wife are explicitly stated in the law by
explicitly stated in the law by
explicitly stated in the law by explicitly limiting the scope of
explicitly limiting the scope of
explicitly limiting the scope of marriage between a man and a woman I
marriage between a man and a woman I
marriage between a man and a woman I think that many of I think that many of
think that many of I think that many of
think that many of I think that many of us can agree that this presents a
us can agree that this presents a
us can agree that this presents a seemingly impenetrable barrier in
seemingly impenetrable barrier in
seemingly impenetrable barrier in legalizing same-sex marriage in Japan
legalizing same-sex marriage in Japan
legalizing same-sex marriage in Japan however what is more troubling is Prime
however what is more troubling is Prime
however what is more troubling is Prime Minister Abe’s unwavering adherence to
Minister Abe’s unwavering adherence to
Minister Abe’s unwavering adherence to article 24 of the Japanese Constitution
article 24 of the Japanese Constitution
article 24 of the Japanese Constitution in a Japan Times article when he was
in a Japan Times article when he was
in a Japan Times article when he was asked what he when he was asked to
asked what he when he was asked to
asked what he when he was asked to reconsider alter the Charter to legalize
reconsider alter the Charter to legalize
reconsider alter the Charter to legalize same-sex marriage his response was it
same-sex marriage his response was it
same-sex marriage his response was it would require extremely cautious
would require extremely cautious
would require extremely cautious consider
consider
consider Prime Minister Ava’s comment therefore
Prime Minister Ava’s comment therefore
Prime Minister Ava’s comment therefore reflects the unaccepting Japanese
reflects the unaccepting Japanese
reflects the unaccepting Japanese society’s attitude towards same-sex
society’s attitude towards same-sex
society’s attitude towards same-sex relationships and therefore hinders the
relationships and therefore hinders the
relationships and therefore hinders the progress of legalizing same-sex marriage
progress of legalizing same-sex marriage
progress of legalizing same-sex marriage in Japan and moreover and moreover the
in Japan and moreover and moreover the
in Japan and moreover and moreover the LDP agenda chip at a Japan Times article
LDP agenda chip at a Japan Times article
LDP agenda chip at a Japan Times article featured a comment by the Liberal
featured a comment by the Liberal
featured a comment by the Liberal Democratic Party the Liberal Democratic
Democratic Party the Liberal Democratic
Democratic Party the Liberal Democratic Party stated that no additional measures
Party stated that no additional measures
Party stated that no additional measures are needed to protect the rights of the
are needed to protect the rights of the
are needed to protect the rights of the gay of gays and lesbians
gay of gays and lesbians
gay of gays and lesbians this however is clearly false as
this however is clearly false as
this however is clearly false as same-sex couples are denied equal rights
same-sex couples are denied equal rights
same-sex couples are denied equal rights under the law ranging from inheritance
under the law ranging from inheritance
under the law ranging from inheritance and pensions to employment and labor law
and pensions to employment and labor law
and pensions to employment and labor law and so as a result of the government’s
and so as a result of the government’s
and so as a result of the government’s opposition members of the gay community
opposition members of the gay community
opposition members of the gay community may feel humiliated or even resentful of
may feel humiliated or even resentful of
may feel humiliated or even resentful of their sexual orientation which can
their sexual orientation which can
their sexual orientation which can result in increased suicide and
result in increased suicide and
result in increased suicide and depression rates in the gay and lesbian
depression rates in the gay and lesbian
depression rates in the gay and lesbian youth community in Japan a Japan Times
youth community in Japan a Japan Times
youth community in Japan a Japan Times article featured Japan’s first
article featured Japan’s first
article featured Japan’s first large-scale study that focused on the
large-scale study that focused on the
large-scale study that focused on the experience on the experiences of the
experience on the experiences of the
experience on the experiences of the LGBTQ community in a Japanese high
LGBTQ community in a Japanese high
LGBTQ community in a Japanese high school the results of the survey
school the results of the survey
school the results of the survey revealed that 32 percent of the
revealed that 32 percent of the
revealed that 32 percent of the respondents contemplated suicide and 22
respondents contemplated suicide and 22
respondents contemplated suicide and 22 percent of the respondents underwent
percent of the respondents underwent
percent of the respondents underwent self-inflicted torture such as risk
self-inflicted torture such as risk
self-inflicted torture such as risk cutting the results of the survey
cutting the results of the survey
cutting the results of the survey revealed a the amount of oppression the
revealed a the amount of oppression the
revealed a the amount of oppression the LGBTQ community endures in Japan as a
LGBTQ community endures in Japan as a
LGBTQ community endures in Japan as a result of the unaccepting Japanese
result of the unaccepting Japanese
result of the unaccepting Japanese society towards same-sex relationships
society towards same-sex relationships
society towards same-sex relationships and now this brings me to my main focus
and now this brings me to my main focus
and now this brings me to my main focus of my speech which is how can we as
of my speech which is how can we as
of my speech which is how can we as international students do to contribute
international students do to contribute
international students do to contribute to the legalization of same-sex marriage
to the legalization of same-sex marriage
to the legalization of same-sex marriage have any of you have heard a club that
have any of you have heard a club that
have any of you have heard a club that promotes gay awareness the Gay Straight
promotes gay awareness the Gay Straight
promotes gay awareness the Gay Straight Alliance Club well according
Alliance Club well according
Alliance Club well according the Gay Straight Alliance Club Website
the Gay Straight Alliance Club Website
the Gay Straight Alliance Club Website the GSA Club is a student-led club where
the GSA Club is a student-led club where
the GSA Club is a student-led club where both the LGBTQ community is straight
both the LGBTQ community is straight
both the LGBTQ community is straight students unite and support one another
students unite and support one another
students unite and support one another the primary goals of the the primary
the primary goals of the the primary
the primary goals of the the primary goals of the club are to establish a
goals of the club are to establish a
goals of the club are to establish a safe haven for the LGBTQ community as
safe haven for the LGBTQ community as
safe haven for the LGBTQ community as well as establishing a foundation for
well as establishing a foundation for
well as establishing a foundation for activism to combat transphobia and
activism to combat transphobia and
activism to combat transphobia and homophobia and during the process of
homophobia and during the process of
homophobia and during the process of creating this club I interviewed my high
creating this club I interviewed my high
creating this club I interviewed my high school principal at the international
school principal at the international
school principal at the international scope of the Sacred Heart in April of
scope of the Sacred Heart in April of
scope of the Sacred Heart in April of this year and I was initially worried
this year and I was initially worried
this year and I was initially worried about her reaction of me starting this
about her reaction of me starting this
about her reaction of me starting this club as clearly this topic is
club as clearly this topic is
club as clearly this topic is controversial and sacred or is a
controversial and sacred or is a
controversial and sacred or is a Catholic school however I was surprised
Catholic school however I was surprised
Catholic school however I was surprised because she was very open and accepting
because she was very open and accepting
because she was very open and accepting towards the idea of starting this club
towards the idea of starting this club
towards the idea of starting this club and the reasons for her acceptance
and the reasons for her acceptance
and the reasons for her acceptance towards this towards creating this club
towards this towards creating this club
towards this towards creating this club was because she thought that Isis age
was because she thought that Isis age
was because she thought that Isis age has a very diverse student body and this
has a very diverse student body and this
has a very diverse student body and this directly connects to go three of Isis
directly connects to go three of Isis
directly connects to go three of Isis age which is social awareness which
age which is social awareness which
age which is social awareness which impels to action and so establishing
impels to action and so establishing
impels to action and so establishing this club seemed perfectly relevant as
this club seemed perfectly relevant as
this club seemed perfectly relevant as my initiative closely aligns with goal
my initiative closely aligns with goal
my initiative closely aligns with goal three of Isis age and to fulfill my goal
three of Isis age and to fulfill my goal
three of Isis age and to fulfill my goal of spreading the awareness of the LGBTQ
of spreading the awareness of the LGBTQ
of spreading the awareness of the LGBTQ community alongside me Haruna Komatsu a
community alongside me Haruna Komatsu a
community alongside me Haruna Komatsu a senior at the international scope of the
senior at the international scope of the
senior at the international scope of the Sacred Heart have established at the GSA
Sacred Heart have established at the GSA
Sacred Heart have established at the GSA club at Isis age in September of this
club at Isis age in September of this
club at Isis age in September of this year and I was at first
year and I was at first
year and I was at first apprehensive whether our club would hold
apprehensive whether our club would hold
apprehensive whether our club would hold a lot of members but I was actually
a lot of members but I was actually
a lot of members but I was actually really surprised that a lot of members
really surprised that a lot of members
really surprised that a lot of members decided a lot of people decide to sign
decided a lot of people decide to sign
decided a lot of people decide to sign up for a club and our club currently
up for a club and our club currently
up for a club and our club currently holds twenty people and the aim of our
holds twenty people and the aim of our
holds twenty people and the aim of our club is to raise awareness of the
club is to raise awareness of the
club is to raise awareness of the neglect and alienation the Japanese gay
neglect and alienation the Japanese gay
neglect and alienation the Japanese gay community faces in Japan within an
community faces in Japan within an
community faces in Japan within an international school environment such as
international school environment such as
international school environment such as Isis age
and Hana and I are in the process of
and Hana and I are in the process of organizing a lot of the events to
organizing a lot of the events to
organizing a lot of the events to promote LGBTQ awareness within Isis age
promote LGBTQ awareness within Isis age
promote LGBTQ awareness within Isis age and some of the events that we are
and some of the events that we are
and some of the events that we are planning to organize are as follows
planning to organize are as follows
planning to organize are as follows our main event would be to participate
our main event would be to participate
our main event would be to participate in the Tokyo rainbow pride march which
in the Tokyo rainbow pride march which
in the Tokyo rainbow pride march which is held at Yoyogi Park in April of next
is held at Yoyogi Park in April of next
is held at Yoyogi Park in April of next year and to do this we’d to do this we
year and to do this we’d to do this we
year and to do this we’d to do this we decided we are planning to host a series
decided we are planning to host a series
decided we are planning to host a series of bake sales to raise money to create
of bake sales to raise money to create
of bake sales to raise money to create GSA t-shirts that we could wear at the
GSA t-shirts that we could wear at the
GSA t-shirts that we could wear at the pride march as well as our school
pride march as well as our school
pride march as well as our school festival to advertise the GSA Club and
festival to advertise the GSA Club and
festival to advertise the GSA Club and promote more awareness of the LGBTQ
promote more awareness of the LGBTQ
promote more awareness of the LGBTQ community and moreover we also plan to
community and moreover we also plan to
community and moreover we also plan to organize events that acknowledges many
organize events that acknowledges many
organize events that acknowledges many of the brutal treatments the LGBTQ
of the brutal treatments the LGBTQ
of the brutal treatments the LGBTQ community have suffered worldwide and
community have suffered worldwide and
community have suffered worldwide and one example of this is the transgender
one example of this is the transgender
one example of this is the transgender Day of Remembrance which is held on
Day of Remembrance which is held on
Day of Remembrance which is held on November 20th of this year and this
November 20th of this year and this
November 20th of this year and this event aims to memorialize all those who
event aims to memorialize all those who
event aims to memorialize all those who have been killed due to transphobia and
have been killed due to transphobia and
have been killed due to transphobia and to call attention to the continued
to call attention to the continued
to call attention to the continued violence the transgender community
violence the transgender community
violence the transgender community suffers worldwide and I mentioned bake
suffers worldwide and I mentioned bake
suffers worldwide and I mentioned bake sales but the goods that we’re applying
sales but the goods that we’re applying
sales but the goods that we’re applying to sell will reflect on gay pride so for
to sell will reflect on gay pride so for
to sell will reflect on gay pride so for example we’re thinking of selling
example we’re thinking of selling
example we’re thinking of selling rainbow themed cupcakes as an example of
rainbow themed cupcakes as an example of
rainbow themed cupcakes as an example of a bake sale good and in addition to this
a bake sale good and in addition to this
a bake sale good and in addition to this we’re also planning to distribute flyers
we’re also planning to distribute flyers
we’re also planning to distribute flyers that explain the GSA club’s aim as well
that explain the GSA club’s aim as well
that explain the GSA club’s aim as well as the current situation of the gay
as the current situation of the gay
as the current situation of the gay community in Japan to whoever buys the
community in Japan to whoever buys the
community in Japan to whoever buys the baked goods in order to spread more
baked goods in order to spread more
baked goods in order to spread more awareness within our school and once her
awareness within our school and once her
awareness within our school and once her Nana and I establishes a solid
Nana and I establishes a solid
Nana and I establishes a solid foundation of the GSA Club at Isis age
foundation of the GSA Club at Isis age
foundation of the GSA Club at Isis age we’re planning to collaborate with other
we’re planning to collaborate with other
we’re planning to collaborate with other international schools in the Kanto
international schools in the Kanto
international schools in the Kanto plains to raise awareness and we found
plains to raise awareness and we found
plains to raise awareness and we found out that ASI Jake the American School in
out that ASI Jake the American School in
out that ASI Jake the American School in Japan currently has a GSA Club and some
Japan currently has a GSA Club and some
Japan currently has a GSA Club and some of the events some of the activities or
of the events some of the activities or
of the events some of the activities or that the hosts are as follows day of
that the hosts are as follows day of
that the hosts are as follows day of silence coming out day and Ally week so
silence coming out day and Ally week so
silence coming out day and Ally week so harina and I were planning to organize
harina and I were planning to organize
harina and I were planning to organize some of these events at Isis H as well
some of these events at Isis H as well
some of these events at Isis H as well and we thought that if the aaj in Isis H
and we thought that if the aaj in Isis H
and we thought that if the aaj in Isis H collaboration collaboration proves
collaboration collaboration proves
collaboration collaboration proves successful we can spread awareness to
successful we can spread awareness to
successful we can spread awareness to other schools in the Kanto region and we
other schools in the Kanto region and we
other schools in the Kanto region and we can therefore hopefully on prompt more
can therefore hopefully on prompt more
can therefore hopefully on prompt more international schools to start their own
international schools to start their own
international schools to start their own JSA club as a way to spread awareness of
JSA club as a way to spread awareness of
JSA club as a way to spread awareness of the LGBTQ in Japan and consequently if
the LGBTQ in Japan and consequently if
the LGBTQ in Japan and consequently if enough international schools in the
enough international schools in the
enough international schools in the Kanto area achieve some level of
Kanto area achieve some level of
Kanto area achieve some level of awareness of the gay community we
awareness of the gay community we
awareness of the gay community we thought that this could potentially
thought that this could potentially
thought that this could potentially capture the attention of the political
capture the attention of the political
capture the attention of the political sphere of Japan and we thought that the
sphere of Japan and we thought that the
sphere of Japan and we thought that the GSA club could launch a letter-writing
GSA club could launch a letter-writing
GSA club could launch a letter-writing campaign which can be addressed to local
campaign which can be addressed to local
campaign which can be addressed to local wards or prime minister Ave or the
wards or prime minister Ave or the
wards or prime minister Ave or the Liberal Democratic Party the letters
Liberal Democratic Party the letters
Liberal Democratic Party the letters will focus on the current situation of
will focus on the current situation of
will focus on the current situation of the gay community in Japan as well as
the gay community in Japan as well as
the gay community in Japan as well as what what our club is all about and ways
what what our club is all about and ways
what what our club is all about and ways that we can spread awareness of the
that we can spread awareness of the
that we can spread awareness of the LGBTQ community and although there is no
LGBTQ community and although there is no
LGBTQ community and although there is no guarantee that the government will work
guarantee that the government will work
guarantee that the government will work its way towards lifting the ban I think
its way towards lifting the ban I think
its way towards lifting the ban I think that many of you can agree that this
that many of you can agree that this
that many of you can agree that this could put significant pressure on the
could put significant pressure on the
could put significant pressure on the Japanese government to alter its ways
and my final point is the importance of
and my final point is the importance of being proactive I cannot stress enough
being proactive I cannot stress enough
being proactive I cannot stress enough that the worst thing that any of us
that the worst thing that any of us
that the worst thing that any of us could do is to just sit idly and be
could do is to just sit idly and be
could do is to just sit idly and be oblivious to the many societal issues
oblivious to the many societal issues
oblivious to the many societal issues around us and I hope that after my talk
around us and I hope that after my talk
around us and I hope that after my talk I’ve demonstrated that even a high
I’ve demonstrated that even a high
I’ve demonstrated that even a high schooler could help raise awareness of
schooler could help raise awareness of
schooler could help raise awareness of an important issue by simply starting a
an important issue by simply starting a
an important issue by simply starting a club and I would like to end with a
club and I would like to end with a
club and I would like to end with a quote by zigzag ler we cannot start over
quote by zigzag ler we cannot start over
quote by zigzag ler we cannot start over but we can begin now and make a new
but we can begin now and make a new
but we can begin now and make a new ending thank you
ending thank you
ending thank you [Applause]
”
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