Passion for Participating in Rainbow Pride 2024

Rainbow Pride 2024 was held at Yoyogi Park this year again. The theme was "Never give up until we change." While the awareness of sexual minorities is increasing in Japan, Japan is the only country among the seven industrialized countries (G7) that has not introduced same-sex marriage or a national partnership system. Of course, the excitement of Rainbow Pride is a great thing, but it is also a good opportunity to rethink what Rainbow Pride is all about.

Rainbow Pride dates back to the Stonewall Incident in New York City in 1969. The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar for LGBTQ+ people, had been plagued by frequent discriminatory policing by the police at the time. A violent clash broke out between police officers and a riot broke out that day.

Officially, there is no direct connection, but it was the day of the funeral of Judy Garland (1922-1969), one of the biggest stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, who was openly bisexual and an icon of gay culture. She was undoubtedly special to LGBTQ+ people because her father was homosexual and she had the courage to come out as bisexual herself at a time when the word "diversity" did not even exist. Whenever I see the rainbow design that symbolizes the Rainbow Flag, I am sure I am not alone in remembering Judy's famous song "Over The Rainbow / Beyond the Rainbow" from her masterpiece "The Wizard of Oz.

The Rainbow Flag was designed by artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. The colors of the rainbow symbolize diversity and unity: red for life, orange for development, yellow for sunshine, green for nature, blue for peace, and purple for the diversity of souls.

How can we head for an era in which discrimination is eliminated and diversity is taken for granted? In order to eliminate discrimination, it is necessary to correctly understand and recognize what is happening in the world and in Japan, to think for oneself what the issues are, and to develop an attitude to take action to change them. By participating in Rainbow Pride and the Rainbow Parade, Eric's seminar hopes to help people feel the pain and take action. The Eric Seminar is a group of students from Aoyama Gakuin University's School of Global Study and Collaboration, students from The Graduate School of Project Design, Eric Seminar advisors, and of course Eric Seminar graduates, all of whom come from completely different ages and backgrounds, to think and act together. There is no doubt that this year's event also brought about a variety of new insights.

The Eric's Seminar will continue to face various social issues and take action in the future.
 
Peace out,
 
Eric