與真司郎が体験した東京レインボープライド──「自分らしくいられると、人生が本当に楽しくなる」
“We need to be more visible and spread the word.” Celebrated worldwide, the LGBTQ+ Pride Week/Month began as a movement known as Gay Pride in 1969. In June 1969, New York City's Greenwich Village experienced the "Stonewall Riots," a series of protests by the LGBTQ+ community against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar. This event sparked the global Pride Movement, which has grown to include June as Pride Month, a period dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ+ human rights and equality for all minorities. In Japan, the first "Lesbian & Gay Parade" took place in August 1994 but quickly stopped in 1996. It resumed in 2000 as the "Tokyo Lesbian & Gay Parade 2000." Despite interruptions and changes in organizing bodies, the Tokyo Rainbow Pride Festival has been held annually since 2012. Initially held in August during the summer holidays, the event moved to Golden Week (GW) in May due to Tokyo's extreme summer heat and other logistical reasons, ensuring a more stable and well-attended parade. Several countries and regions, like Australia and Taiwan, also host Pride events outside June. Australia's "Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras" occurs in February-March, during their summer, while Taiwan's "Taiwan LGBT Pride Parade" occurs in late October after the typhoon season. Many other areas, including Japan, have chosen different times of the year for their Pride celebrations. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pride events in Tokyo (including the hiatus period). In commemorating this milestone, this year’s parade featured special floats and booths highlighting solidarity with Pride events held nationwide, making this year's Tokyo Rainbow Pride (TRP) a significant milestone in Japan's LGBTQ+ Pride history. “Although Pride events in June are common in the US and Europe, there are also countries like Japan where the timing is different. Unfortunately, I can't participate in the Pride events in the US and Europe this June due to my tour schedule. Today's experience has strengthened my desire to experience it in other countries firsthand.” "I had imagined the parade would involve queer folks as well as spectators and allies, all of us coming together in high spirits. However, today was different from what I expected. Particularly on the sidewalks right next to the parade, many people seemed indifferent. They weren't looking at us with cold eyes, but it felt like they just happened to be there and didn't know about it, so they thought it wasn't relevant to them. This felt very different from how people perceive LGBTQ Pride in LA. However, after experiencing this discomfort, I understood where Japan was. Even if we successfully organize such a large event, we’re ultimately a minority, and our voices are overwhelmingly marginal. Moreover, in Japan, most participants haven't come out and can't come out. We need a lot more visibility and representation across the board.” Visibility and recognition. These have been central pillars within TRP since its inception. On the other hand, some participants say, "I'm living happily enough, so please leave me alone," or "I don't want to stand out." But there’s more we can unpack here. It’s clear that awareness and environment surrounding LGBTQ+ individuals have significantly changed from 30 years ago. Why is that? Because in the last 30 years, be it through celebrities coming out or activism from within and around the queer community, we have found ways to show that sexual minorities live amongst all of us, that they are hurt and angered by the lack of awareness around their experiences. It is understandable to want to protect oneself out of fear of being outed; that state has a certain security. However, as Atae says, "A healthy mental state is achieved by being true to oneself." Living openly benefits individuals and society, and we must move forward. “The number of sexual minority celebrities coming out barely increases... I think it's because of internal politics in agencies and issues on the media side that they want to avoid taking such risks. I can understand that, but it’s precisely the celebrities who work under their names who can change society by coming out more and more and increasing the number of allies. Although it’s known that there is nothing more powerful than the actual voices of queer folks, it's difficult to do that. When allies like Thelma or my team speak up, it makes a huge difference. For now, we have to rely on the power of allies. In that respect, one of the things that reassured me about today's TRP was the presence of allies.” It’s probably a scene he couldn’t have imagined before coming out at the fan event around this time last year. A single honest statement changed him and moved people. "When I'm in LA, it feels like most people are open about their sexuality, and while it's not fair to compare, I've come to understand my values thanks to my experiences in America. I've learned about LGBTQ+ issues, experienced love, gained reliable friends, and become liberated from my inner struggles. These experiences have made me think about what I can do to make Japan a place where people can live honestly. Working in a public-facing job, I was always anxious about what would happen if someone outed me. This is why I decided to come out on my terms. I had also already planned to move to America if I ended up being alienated or disliked for it. But most queer people can't live outside of Japan, and if they have no escape and share the same suffering, then I have to speak out. I know what these struggles feel like. I don't see it as my duty to bear this burden alone, so I can't become an activist. But I want to do what I can, like traveling to speak at schools and companies. I love talking and want to share messages beyond just my music."