Gay Pride (Feedback)

Thanks for all your comments. I didn’t think many people would be interested in this topic because, as I said, awareness of LBGT issues seems to be quite low in Japan. Anyway, I’m glad that so many of you joined in.

I talked to one of my gay friends about what I wrote in the original entry, and he said the situation is much better for gay men in Japan than it used to be because there is not so much pressure to get married anymore. It is quite common now for people in their mid thirties to be single, so gay men do not feel that they have to live a lie just to appear normal. Actually, the same friend once told me the following joke. Do you understand it?

Q: What is the best way to prevent gay sex?
A: Legalize gay marriage!

As some of you pointed out, a big part of this issue is how you define the word “marriage.” I know that a lot of people (especially religious people) like to define marriage as being “between a man and a woman.” If that is your definition, then it is clearly not possible for two men or two women to be married. To be honest, I don’t fully understand why gay people want so much to be able to get married, but if there is ever an argument about ethics that has religions on one side, I make it a rule to be on the other!

Here is some feedback on your comments this week.

Hi David,
I know you are very busy, but may I ask you? If you have enough time, I want to hear your impression of your lecture last Saturday and Sunday.
Hi Mika, it was very interesting. There were 21 people there, and their ages ranged from 32 to 87! The oldest lady was absolutely fantastic. She had better hearing than me, and she looked about 20 years younger than her age. The class was quite difficult to teach because of the mixed levels, but I think I was able to do a reasonably good job.

If you turn on TV, you’ll see a number of Japanese gay entertainers every day.
I know, but a lot of people think that they are “special” somehow because they are on TV.

some of them were disowned by their parents when they “outed”.
If you tell people yourself that you are gay, we say that you “come out.” Being “outed” means that someone else tells people about you even though you didn’t want them to know.

People misunderstand the fact and say such a stupid things.
People who say such stupid things don’t understand the reality.

Discriminating these people just because they are the minority
Discriminating against these people just because they are in the minority…

Do all those gay men really love their wives?
Do all straight men really love their wives?!

but I’m not 100% agree with that they adopt children
but I don’t agree completely with allowing them to adopt children

but I doubt if I can agree with my own son’s gay marriage
but I doubt if I would be able to accept my own son’s gay marriage (A-Z: if / when)

My parents used to have a Japanese gay friend.
… a gay Japanese friend (A-Z: adjective order)

I wish I could support my son, but I’m sure I’ll never be abe to do that because I put myself first.
… but I’m sure I would never be able to do that because … (A-Z: if / when)

I’m sorry, if it sounded so.
I’m sorry if it sounded as though I was.

I read that Elton John has a civil partener, too.
He does, and I believe they are about to have their second baby using a surrogate mother.

Do you think “pedophilia”(ロリコン) is one of the sexualities?
If so, why do they have to be discriminated?]
That is a very difficult topic! Let’s do that another week.

Can I ask a question? Is “carry the flag for” the same meaning as “carry the banner for”?
Yes, it’s the same meaning.

I used the words 異性婚　and 同性婚 other way round.
I used the words … and … the wrong way round.

There have been gays in every age and homosexual animals are quite common.
Every age, every country, every society, and every culture!

American people have been very aware of the issue of “LBGT” since long,
American people have been aware of LBGT issues for a long time.

As far as sexuality is concerned, I think most people are actually neither gay nor straight but, depending on the circumstances, could go either way.
After reading your comment, I would like to reword my original statement. I think there are three groups of people: those who are born gay; those who are born either gay or straight but change at some point in their lives; and those who are not gay but indulge in gay sex temporarily out of necessity / convenience (e.g., prison, army, etc.). And then of course there are bisexuals. Human sexuality is a very complicated subject! Incidentally, the gay friend I mentioned above told me that he has never felt attracted to a woman in his life, and that he realized he was gay when he was about fourteen.

You must be kidding, because I can’t believe that there are some people who think something like that!!
Unfortunately, I am not kidding.

That’s all for today. As you all know, Monday is a holiday, so I probably won’t do the next entry until Tuesday. Have a great weekend.