I have been involved with the various activities of the student organization, Coe Alliance, here since the very beginning of this year. I went to the Gay Day at Adventure Land, I attended the Big Gay Conference, and I also helped the Pride Week. In addition to these big events, I attended most of the meetings and helped events as one of the members. Originally, Coe Alliance is the organization for GLBTQ/Straight people and their allies; therefore, most of the events are related to gay or other sexuality issues.

In these various events, I think we have achieved our goal at least to some extent: to raise campus awareness of gender or GLBT issues. Regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, we can share the feelings and the troubles that the gay people are faced. However, I have been wondering if this thesis is really true. Suppose I am a straight, is it really helpful or persuasive to speak up and talk about the gay rights stuff? It seemed to me that it doesn窶冲 really help them since I do enjoy the privileges that I have as a straight person in this society. I don窶冲 have to worry about anything that gay people worry about, and this makes my argument unpersuasive.

(Note: I am not going to discuss the definition, distinction or difference between gay and straight because it doesn窶冲 matter when I help the activity or attend the events, or it is nearly impossible to define one窶冱 definition of sexual presence.)

Today, I talked to one professor whom I have been taken care of since the beginning of this study in order to find an answer for this question. He is the chair of the foreign language department and teaches German. He also teaches gender studies and is one of the advisors for Coe Alliance. His name is John Chaimov.

Our discussion lasted one-hour long and talked about various stuff; I cannot even remember some detailed points. But I am so inspired and encouraged by this discussion. (I was kind of expecting him to encourage me though :))

What I got from the talking was that just to be supportive or to share the problem will be the great help for the gay people. Some might reject it, but not all the people will reject; rather, they do welcome my understanding, and they still need more help even though I am not the person who does experience the troubles.

This point is related to the concept of the 窶廣lly窶� that is not really heard in Japan. Ally is a kind of supporter, but it sounds to me more friendly than the supporter. (Since Professor John gave me a handout which is written by Coe Alliance a few years ago, I am going to study the conception of ally.)

I founded the gender studies club at Waseda, but our main purpose is to find a friend who can talk about gender or study gender issues. Of course, we are not going to deny being an ally or to be unsupportive to the other organization, but we are not really ready to be an ally. Studying gender is an object of the club, and for that matter, GLBT people also could be the object. (It also could be exploitative for them because straight people will not ever be an object of the study.) Therefore, Coe Alliance and my gender studies club are rather different although it looks like similar organization.

John showed me some directions how I can act to promote and raise the awareness in Japan. Despite the fact that I have been involved with the gender studies stuff for two or three years in Japan, I have just a few openly GLBT friends. On the other hand, I have got to know more than 10 GLBT friends here just within one year. Situation is very different. We discussed what causes this difference, and reached to the agreement that it is probably the cultural differences between our countries. Generally speaking, traditional Japanese culture tends to emphasize the 窶徃roupness,窶� that is it is in favor of the same quality or homogeneity. American culture is more individualistic; thus, it makes people more independent, and since nobody cares about others, coming out becomes much easier. (I know it is very difficult for some though.) Therefore, John suggested me that it is going to be very small step that I should take in order to improve the comfortable environment for gay people in Japan. But it is still great step, he added. Maybe I can expand the network of the student organization or link their each activity.

It was so nice to get to know him. He is so generous and kind. Maybe I should have taken his class. (Or maybe I can write to him in Germany, not English.) Even though I haven窶冲 been involved with his class, I got to know him very well and friendly. I think it is the very advantage of the small college. The atmosphere here enables us to make friends even with the professor! I am so glad to get to know him and have some discussions with him today.