IMAZINE

No.1

Published by: the BHE Gender Support Team

What is IMAZINE !?
Have you heard about the BHE Gender Support Team at the University of Tsukuba? In recent years, there has
been increasing awareness around SOGI (sexual orientations and gender identities), which are aspects of humanidentity that many can relate to, though some may find themselves confused or struggling.
BHE stands for the Bureau of Human Empowerment, and the Gender Support Team aims to assist individuals on
campus facing challenges related to SOGI, while also promoting knowledge and understanding of these issues. Themajor focus of the Gender Support Team includes organizing the "kite kite" safer space, where female and sexual
minority students can safely engage in discussions several times a month, as well as hosting exhibitions in thelibrary and participating in events like the Tokyo Rainbow Parade.
The IMAZINE is a newsletter published by the student staff of the Gender Support Team. This newsletter isdesigned to amplify the voices of University of Tsukuba students, covering topics related to sexuality both within
and outside the university, updates on Gender Support Team events, and various gender and sexuality-related
subjects.
The name "IMAZINE" is inspired by the University of Tsukuba's slogan, "IMAGINE THE FUTURE." Through themagazine, the Gender Support Team endeavors to empower everyone to embrace their identity proudly andunapologetically. We hope you find it empowering too!

After a year in the BHE Gender Support Team - Dr. Hiroshi Yasui
We interviewed Professor Hiroshi Yasui, who served as an Assistant Professor at BHE from February 2023 to March 2024
and is currently a Research Fellow at Doshisha University, to reflect on his year at BHE. Dr. Yasui specializes in feminist queer
theory and critical animal studies in Israel/Palestine. He submitted his PhD thesis, titled 'Politics and Nationalism over Rights
in Contemporary Israel: a comparative analysis of Sexual Minority Rights and Animal Rights,' in March of last year. In addition
to his regular duties in the Gender Support Team, last year he collaborated with peer staff on planning meetings andadministration. Dr. Yasui is approachable and affable, making the interview a pleasant experience. In the following, we'llhighlight the interview's focus on the implementation of the University of Tsukuba's Safer Space, 'Kitekite,' and Dr. Yasui'sinitiatives since joining BHE.
Dr. Yasui's introduction to BHE was serendipitous. While researching his future career path during his doctoral studies, he waspleasantly surprised to discover that the University of Tsukuba had established a department to support SOGI diversity andwas recruiting researchers specializing in sexuality studies. He expressed his joy at being employed there. He also emphasized
the importance of gender education in Japan, noting the scarcity of opportunities for such education in elementary, juniorhigh, and high schools. Dr. Yasui's efforts to address gender issues span both research and education domains.
After Professor Yasui assumed his position, one of the things he wanted to do was to establish aSafer Space. With the collaboration of Professor Yasui, Tsukuba University's Safer Space,"KiteKite," was realized last year. Drawing from his experience of belonging to a LGBTQ peer
support group during his student days, he felt the necessity of creating a space for sexual
minorities. He also felt concerned about students who couldn't come to university because theirgender and sexuality weren't respected, thinking, "The university should not be irresponsible aboutproviding an environment where all members can study comfortably." During that time, he foundsignificance in a piece by Akiko Shimizu on feminism and queer studies titled "Can Universities
Protect “the University”? - Sexual Minorities in Universities" (published in 2016 in Sekai, volume888, by Iwanami Shoten), realizing, "This is a problem that universities must address." Many
universities in the United States and some in Japan, particularly in Tokyo, already have SaferSpaces. Based on this context, discussions were held among peer staff, including Dr. Yasui, andother faculty members to initiate efforts at Tsukuba University. Eventually, the Safer Space wasestablished last year.
Dr. Yasui mentioned, "LGBTQ individuals often feel isolated. When they are born 'different,' theyusually grow up in families where both parents are heterosexual and cisgender, so they often end
Dr. Hiroshi Yasui
up feeling alone. Then, during adolescence, their great journey of self-discovery begins, which is（Date of taken
not as common for other minorities. Therefore, it is important to have relationships and2023/03/27）
collaborations among students that are not about supporting or being supported but aboutequality." He conveyed this message to the students. Although he moved away this fiscal year, heemphasized the importance of students continuing to make various proposals. This interview
serves as encouragement for peer staff to continue their activities.
Thank you for the past year!

Actions toward the realization of same-sex marriage at Tokyo
Rainbow Pride 2024.
The public interest corporation Marriage For All Japan, aiming for marriage equality (legalization of same-sex
marriage) under the motto 'Marriage Freedom for Everyone,' conducted various collaborative projects at Tokyo
Rainbow Pride 2024. These included symposiums on same-sex marriage, participation in the parade, installation of
an AR camera experience space to visualize candidates supporting same-sex marriage, and a corner for delivering
messages to members of parliament urging the legalization of same-sex marriage, where approximately 330
letters were collected. The parade saw the participation of appellants and legal teams fighting for 'Marriage
Freedom for Everyone,' as well as supporters and stakeholders from across the nation. Yuki Kawada and Akiyoshi
Tanaka, the appellants of the Kansai lawsuit, which was the only case to be deemed 'constitutional' in the lawsuit,stated, 'It's strange that the statement from the national leader is that 'society will turn for the worse' with therecognition of same-sex marriage, even though the purpose of politics should be to increase the happiness ofsociety.' (excerpt from the statement).
(Citation) https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000056.000054117.html PRTIMES 2024/05/02 10:00

What does “Ally” mean?
An ally is someone who, regardless of whether they
are LGBTQ+ individuals or not, respects the rights
and way of life of sexual minorities (the LGBTQ+community), and endeavors to understand andsupport them, while supporting activities andactions aimed at rectifying injustices.
The T-ACT Tsukuba Action Project conducts a
program called 'LGBTQ+ = ALLIES Salon,' whereLGBTQ+ individuals and non-LGBTQ+ allies cometogether to share concerns, study, and plan andexecute actions that demonstrate citizenship. The
goal is to create a space where both LGBTQ+
individuals and allies can work together to address
issues and take action.

HANASO!
Do you have any questions or concerns about genderand sexuality? Want to know more about the related
knowledge? Or anything you'd like to ask the gendersupport team? Scan the QR code next to this passage
and help us collect questions and concerns fromreaders about various aspects of gender and sexuality
and the Gender Support Team, and we answer them
responsibly. So, please feel free to ask us anything you
might not feel comfortable asking others!

BookRecommandatio

The ABCs of LGBT+(Ashley Mardell)Title as it is, it's a book about LGBTQ+ in an easyto-understand manner, even for someone who iscompletely unfamiliar with LGBTQ+ topics at theage of 13! It portrays the real voices of about 40
LGBTQ+ individuals who continue to confront thequestion of "who am I?" in society, depicting
various experiences. It teaches us that humans arediverse, and labels are merely means to understandoneself and others and to convey oneself. It's okay
not to fit into labels, and it's okay to be oneself.

Information
The BHE Gender Support Team is involved in planningand organizing seasonal events such as International
Women's Day in March, Tokyo Rainbow Pride in April,and Pride Month in June, as well as organizing andoperating the SaferSpace KiteKite and movie
screenings. We also participate in booth exhibitions at
the Souhou Festival, all aimed at building LGBTQ+
communities and organizing gender and sexualityrelated events. We've compiled our upcoming activity
schedule for those who are interested. Please feel
free to join us!

feel comfortable asking others!

6/3(Mon)~6/21(Fri)
Pride at Tsukuba ~Petit Library~
Venue：Central Library*The questions and concerns you
submit will be published in IMAZINE.
*Please understand that if there aremany submissions, it may be difficult
to include all of them.

6/5(Wed)、6/26(Wed)Safer Space: Kitekite
Venue：the human science building A 110
Time：11:30~13:30
If you are interested in BHE
Gender Support Team, please
use the QR code on the right.
This is the Official website!
Please take a look!

n!