My Starting Story and Interests

When I was about 5 years old, I went to kindergarten. There is no uniforms, so I would go there every day wearing the clothes I had at home. My mother chosen the clothes I'm coming to that day. She often chosen me skirts. And my friends in kindergarten wear skirts a lot. Actually I want to waer pants, but I couldn't do. My parents wanted me to wear a skirt. There was a tendency that girls should be like girls. Then, I have a question. Why girls can't wear pants a lot? After a while, when I was junior high school student, I found that Kemio and Ryuchel（りゅうちぇる）. they are influencers who are not gender. They live a life that does not abandon their individuality. They affirm it. I noticed that I can live my own way, seeing their way of life. Then, I love expressing myself with clothes. At the same time, I realized that it is still difficult to express own gender. From there, I wanted to know more about LGBT people. And, I have a question " How can we create a society that is easy to live in for all?".

当事者's voice in Japan

「私は戸籍上女性ですが、性自認はどちらかといえば男性寄りです。自身の性のあり方だけを考えれば、男女分けされたどちらのスーツも着たくはなかったし、履歴書の性別欄に性別を書くということもしたくなかった。けれども皆と同じスタートラインに立たなければ将来に向けて進めない。考えた結果、メンズスーツを着て、性別欄は空欄にし、トランスジェンダーであるという自分の性のあり方を伝えた上で就活に臨む選択をしました。就活では書類選考の段階からつまづきました。対面での書類提出の際に『トランスジェンダーだ』とお伝えしたら、『そういう方はうちではちょっと難しいです』と受け取り拒否されたこともありました。面接の場でも、トランスジェンダーであると伝えた途端に面接官の態度がガラッと変わることもありました。『これから手術受けるんだったら、ちゃんと男性になって、その後また受けに来て』『うちは接客業だからお客様を不快な思いにさせることはできない』という言葉を投げつけられたことも。」（ツバサさん/30代、仮名）

Attempt in the UK

In the UK, equality law Act established in 2010. イギリスではセクシャルマイノリティに限らず、人種や障害などの差別を禁止する平等法が制定されました。平等法とは、ハラスメント、直接差別の禁止が含まれます。

Direct discrimination

• 性的嗜好に基づいて不採用とすること

• 解雇を行うこと

• 昇進を拒否すること

• 不利な労働条件を提供すること

Attempt in the UK company

• Training

• Working conditions（労働条件）,福利厚生制度の見直し

• Employee community

Employee community is the most important rule for LGBT people.

当事者's voice

"I am a lesbian police officer, currently working in the Criminal Investigation Departmant for Cheshire Police.（-Do you feel comfortable being out at work?）I feel very comfortable being out with my colleagues, because I have a very good team and working environment. I've become more open about my identity with the public through my public-facing work, but it can still be a challenge. Being a lesbian means I sometimes get the 'you don't look the stereotype' reaction, because of people's perceptions about how we look. It means I regularly come out to different people. I think that gives me a different perspective on being a woman as well as being LGBT. I don't fit into standard boxes, which even our own community has - that's good because it challenges people's perceptions.（-Why are allies important in the workplace?）Allies make it possible to be comfortable to be yourself in the workplace. They are there to be your support when you are not there and show others that being yourself is supported, no matter what your identity. "（Danielle）

What I've learned

I learned a lot of things through many articles and actually participating in the Rainbow Prade. Many organizations are working to recognize deiversity. I noticed that the institutions that are directly involved in the country do not recognized diversity. For example, police and parliament. On the other hand, the UK even the police can profess to belong to the LGBT community. In the case of Japan, waiting for the Diet and the law to change has no effect. I think it is very effective for private companies to voluntarily conduct training and create rules within the company. Both of people who want to change status quo and people who can change status quo should make efforts. Japanese companies should make employee comunity like the UK. Creating a community improves their work enviornment.

In addition, it is important for us to eliminate prejudice from an early age. Childhood experience is important since they become adults.

My new interests and questions

Through participating in the Tokyo Pride Parade and my Research Cycle 1, I learned that there is an LGBT community in Japan. I would like to know what kind of companies recognize diversity. I would also like to know what specific efforts are being made by those companies. Parliament and other national institutions are still not recognized for their diversity. I would like to consider the causes and remedies.

Sources

・YAHOO!JAPANニュース「LGBTの約半数が職場で困難。国が初めて職場のLGBT実態を調査」

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/matsuokasoshi/20200509-00177658

・・gooddo「LGBTに関する課題とは？ジェンダー平等に向けた知識や活動を知ろう」

https://gooddo.jp/magazine/gender_equality/lgbt_gender/

・・HUFFPOST「就活の面接で笑われた」トランスジェンダー当事者が語るLGBT平等法が必要な理由

https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/entry/story_jp_6018ad0ac5b6bde2f5c2429f

・BBC NEWS「生殖器を失わないと性別を変えられない」日本の法律とトランスジェンダー

https://www.bbc.com/japanese/video-56671912

・独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構「LGBTの就労をめぐる状況（イギリス）」

https://www.jil.go.jp/foreign/labor_system/2017/04/uk.html

・EqualityActJapan-日本にもLGBT平等法を」

https://equalityactjapan.org

・LGBT Workplace Stories

https://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/lgbt-workplace-stories