LGBT JETs

[hatefulsandwich]

Hm, I think that 'Stonewall' is a term used by several groups what with the infamous event it refers to. I'm not sure the UK group and the AJET are related to each other by anything more than name. It is a bit confusing, really. I would personally refer to have a group that focuses on LGBT issues in Japan being put in a slightly more positive frame, but I suppose one should feel glad that such a group exists regardless.

It would be nice if the group had a bit more of a presence, though. Seems almost like a secret organization. I suppose it does give an indication of how your life will be in Japan as a LGBT person .

[nyc_to_japan]

It would be nice if the group had a bit more of a presence, though. Seems almost like a secret organization. I suppose it does give an indication of how your life will be in Japan as a LGBT person .

I actually laughed out loud at this...SO true.

and it's true, what you said about the name being slightly negative - but at the same time, the spirit of Stonewall is really a positive, monumental thing, so I'll choose to think of it that way.

[traviisty]

Yay! Love this thread!

Gay JET from San Francisco here and just wanted to jump in on the conversation. Ni-chome in Shinjuku is super fun and i'm all about putting together a "gay" night out during Tokyo orientation. I've checked out the Stonewall website but it doesn't seem that much is going on there, I will be checking out their LGBT seminar at orientation though.

As far as meeting other gays once you get to your prefecture I would recommend (for guys) an Iphone app like Scruff or Grindr...they are location based so you can meet people that are nearby. I'm not sure if there is a similar app for women (though I wouldn't doubt it) but those would be a good way to meet people even if you're out in the inaka with no visible gay scene.

[Bejma]

Yay! Love this thread!

Gay JET from San Francisco here and just wanted to jump in on the conversation. Ni-chome in Shinjuku is super fun and i'm all about putting together a "gay" night out during Tokyo orientation. I've checked out the Stonewall website but it doesn't seem that much is going on there, I will be checking out their LGBT seminar at orientation though.

As far as meeting other gays once you get to your prefecture I would recommend (for guys) an Iphone app like Scruff or Grindr...they are location based so you can meet people that are nearby. I'm not sure if there is a similar app for women (though I wouldn't doubt it) but those would be a good way to meet people even if you're out in the inaka with no visible gay scene.

I'm totally down with having a gay night during orientation! Since we're in the same group we can actually go together! Yeah, I will be utilizing the intarwebz quite extensively when I reach my destination.

[nyc_to_japan]

I'm totally down with having a gay night during orientation! Since we're in the same group we can actually go together! Yeah, I will be utilizing the intarwebz quite extensively when I reach my destination.

Are you guys in Group A? Maybe when it gets closer, if you ARE in group A, we can all plan on finding each other somehow at the LGBT AJET Seminar or something and then make a PLAN!

[Musashi]

The JET Community is very open and welcoming. I'd say it's not an issue for 99% of ALT's whether you're in or out of the closet.
I also think Japan as a culture is more open to foreign openly gay ALT's too. (Rural or city) So if you are out of the closet, or comfortable telling people -- you definitely can do the same. If you prefer to stay private, I doubt that's a problem too. (but still expect whispers and gossip. But we all get that regardless of our sexual orientation)

As for looking for same sex Japanese companions, that might be hard to do. Japan is a lot more judgmental towards gay Japanese, and I find a lot are wayyyyyyy in the closet. So it will probably get pretty lonely (maybe even more so) if you are gay and in inaka. Good thing is that there is a very big gay community in Tokyo and a few clubs who cater to the community.

I think this is something that kinda applies to gay/straight, but if you look for loving inside the JET community, word gets around. So at least go in feet first knowing this. But I once heard that 1 in 10 people are gay, so that already cuts the available pool down.(Actually it's probably 1:12 figuring in people still figuring out their sexual preference)

I kinda wanna add that transgender sounds like a big question mark to me. I think one should be firmly comfortable in their gender (way before applying to JET). Cause if you had a mental breakdown at work and came to school dressed as the opposite gender -- I think you might get fired.

On a side note, I had to Google LGBT. It almost seems like a code that would require a secret handshake. lol

[suica]

It doesn't surprise me that JETs are an accepting bunch, Mark Twain said something like "travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness".

[pnksweater]

http://metropolis.co.jp/features/global-village/breaking-the-stonewall/

Here's a little write up on stonewall that showed up in the last issue of Metropolis.

[Kirari]

I kinda wanna add that transgender sounds like a big question mark to me. I think one should be firmly comfortable in their gender.

Do you mean it's a questionable choice in life in general or just in terms of outing oneself as transgender in Japan?

Cause if you had a mental breakdown at work and came to school dressed as the opposite gender -- I think you might get fired.

I'm nooooot exactly sure that this has happened to anyone, ever. lol!

On a side note, I had to Google LGBT. It almost seems like a code that would require a secret handshake. lol

Haha, yeah~ Especially when you start adding on more letters, like Q and A and probably more I don't know about. Solidarity!

[Kirari]

It doesn't surprise me that JETs are an accepting bunch, Mark Twain said something like "travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness".

Good ol' Mark Twain. I think I need a huge list of all of the awesome things he's said, and the list will be so long that i twill be a huge tome, and it will be entitled Mark Twain's Awesome Book of Awesome by Mark Twain. Seriously, I love that guy.

[traviisty]

I'm totally down with having a gay night during orientation! Since we're in the same group we can actually go together! Yeah, I will be utilizing the intarwebz quite extensively when I reach my destination.

Are you guys in Group A? Maybe when it gets closer, if you ARE in group A, we can all plan on finding each other somehow at the LGBT AJET Seminar or something and then make a PLAN!

San Francisco departures are group B but I highly suggest joining the stonewall Facebook group if you're on FB. They seem to be very active there and can you link you up to the different events they host.

[Musashi]

I kinda wanna add that transgender sounds like a big question mark to me. I think one should be firmly comfortable in their gender.

Do you mean it's a questionable choice in life in general or just in terms of outing oneself as transgender in Japan?

Haha, I read that and after I kinda noticed it was open to interpretation. I just meant question mark as in I've never met a transgender person in JET, and I'm kinda ignorant on the subject. I was just being a bit tongue in cheek about the showing up at work as the opposite gender. I'm on a Mad men marathon right now and my humor turns extra dry after the 3rd or 4th eps.

[Musashi]

double post

[suica]

It doesn't surprise me that JETs are an accepting bunch, Mark Twain said something like "travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness".

Good ol' Mark Twain. I think I need a huge list of all of the awesome things he's said, and the list will be so long that i twill be a huge tome, and it will be entitled Mark Twain's Awesome Book of Awesome by Mark Twain. Seriously, I love that guy.

I've just been reading his Wikiquote page.

"I have no race prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse."

[Kirari]

I kinda wanna add that transgender sounds like a big question mark to me. I think one should be firmly comfortable in their gender.

Do you mean it's a questionable choice in life in general or just in terms of outing oneself as transgender in Japan?

Haha, I read that and after I kinda noticed it was open to interpretation. I just meant question mark as in I've never met a transgender person in JET, and I'm kinda ignorant on the subject. I was just being a bit tongue and cheek about the showing up at work as the opposite gender. I'm on a Mad men marathon right now and my humor turns extra dry after the 3rd or 4th eps.

I suspected that's about what you meant~!