Resources: Japanese Language
Love Letter
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Shared by AARP AAPI Community
Video with Japanese subtitles "There are an estimated 325,000 Asian Pacific Islander (API) adults in the United States that identify as LGBT. Unfortunately, in the API community, young people often see coming out as an act of shaming and dishonoring their parents and their ancestors, but staying in the closet takes a greater toll, causing isolation, depression, and even suicide. Our call to action? Let’s encourage API parents to offer their LGBTQ child a lifeline, support their coming out, and keep the family strong and unified." https://www.facebook.com/AARPAAPI/videos/952919791510727/ |
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Resource from Pink Dot Okinawa
Touching speech by a sister of Naohiko Azama for celebrating her brother’s wedding ceremony in Pink Dot Okinawa 2016. ピンクドット沖縄で結婚式を挙げた安座間尚彦さんの妹さんの感動的なスピーチの動画です。(English traslation follows) 3:00- 兄が同性愛者であると知ったとき、私たち家族は正直、戸惑いました。当初は、会話はするけれど、兄と家族の間には見えない壁があり、見守ることしかできませんでした。でも、兄が順治さんと出会ってから、それまで見たことない笑顔や、生き生きと生活している姿が見えて、正直驚くほど明るくなった兄には、愛のパワーのすごさを本当に教えられた気がします。
先日ふたりと食事をする機会があり、二人のやりとりは見ていてほほえましく、そこにはカップルを超えた人生のパートナーとして生活している姿が見えて、とても安堵の気持ちでいっぱいになりました。これからも仲良く過ごしてほしいなと願うばかりでしたが、本日こうして結婚式を挙げられていることが、いまだに夢のように感じております。 私たち家族は、二人からとても大事なことを教わりました。自分らしく生きること、人が人を愛することは、性別に関係なく、何物にもかえられない美しいことだと教わりました。 順治さん… 兄を見つけてくれて、兄をともに歩むパートナーとして選んでくれて、本当にありがとうございます。これから家族としてご迷惑をおかけするかと思いますが、どうか兄をよろしくお願いします。 そして、兄ちゃん、これから順治さんと家族になるからには、順治さんの右腕に近づけるように頑張っているかと思いますが、さらに努力をしてください。何か困ったことがあれば、私達きょうだいは、全力でサポートしていきます。（書き起こし：Natsuo Hayashi） |
(3:00-) When we found out that my big brother was gay, to be honest with you, my family was perplexed. At first, although we still spoke, there was a kind of invisible wall between us, and all we could do was watch. But, since my brother met Junji, I’ve seen him smile in a way that I’ve never seen before, and I’ve seen how vividly he’s been living. I feel like my brother, who has become so unbelievably cheerful, has truly taught me something about the awesome power of love.
The other day, I had the opportunity to join both of them for dinner. Just seeing how pleasantly they conversed and how they’ve transcended couplehood into life partners who are making a life together, I’m filled with such great relief. Although I want nothing more for them to happily continue this life into the future, the fact that we’re gathered here to hold a wedding ceremony for my brother and his partner still seems like a dream. Our family was taught something very valuable by these two. We were taught that to live freely, that for a person to love another person, has nothing to do with biological sex. This love is a beautiful thing that can’t be changed by anything. Junji, I have to truly thank you for finding my brother, for choosing him to walk together as partners. I’m sure we’ll give you grief like families do, but please take good care of my brother. And also, brother, since Junji is going to be a part of our family, even though you’re already as close to him as his own right arm, try even harder. And if you ever have anything that you’re worried about at all, your siblings are here for you to support you with all of our power. (Translation: Kane Bryant) |
Resources from NQAPIA
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Click here to access fie:
http://www.nqapia.org/wpp/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/japanese.jpg Video on OKAERI: A Nikkei LGBTQ Gathering
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A Mother's Take: Vision for LGBT Families in Seattle
(by Marsha Aizumi for the Pacific Citizen) 
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