Today's Out Spotlight is Kanako Otsuji. Born December 16, 1974 in Nara Japan, Kanako Otsuji is a Japanese LGBT rights activist and former member of the Osaka Prefectural
Assembly (April 2003–April 2007). She was one of only seven women in the 110-member Osaka Assembly, Otsuji
represented the Sakai-ku, Sakai City constituency.
Otsuji was an Asian Junior karate champion, later enrolling at Seoul University to study Korean and tae kwon do. Her goal was to go to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 but was unsuccessful in making the national team. She returned to Japan and enrolled at Doshisha University in Kyoto, where she first became interested in politics.
At 28 she became the youngest person ever elected to the Osaka Assembly. She later joined Rainbow and Greens, a new Japanese political coalition dedicated to developing an alternative society based on ecological politics, participatory political ideas and decentralization.
Then in August 200
5, Otsuji published an autobiography Coming Out: A Journey to Find My True Self, and in doing so came out as Japan's first lesbian politician, the day before 2005 Tokyo Pride. This in a country where people in public positions seldom come out as homosexual for fear it could destroy their careers. An estimated 1 million or more gay people live in Japan.
In Japan, homosexuality has long been accepted in fact but not openly discussed.
In medieval times, homosexual relationships were an open secret among priests, nuns and samurai knights. (Great article on same sex samurai relationships - here)
Although gays and lesbians in Japan do not encounter outright hostility, Otsuji said Japan was behind many Western countries in awareness of sexual diversity.
That same year she was instrumental in bringing about legislative change that allowed same-sex couples to rent housing from the Osaka Prefectural Housing Corporation, a privilege previously reserved for married couples. Since same-sex marriages are not recognized under Japanese law, gay couples in Osaka had previously found it impossible to rent public housing.
In March-April 2006, Otsuji attended International Lesbian and Gay Association's world conference in Geneva and visited the United States on a trip sponsored by the International Visitor Leadership Program of the US Department of State. During her visit she met representatives from the National Center for Transgender Equality, the National Association of LGBT Community Centers, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Freedom to Marry and the Stonewall Democrats.
She chose not to run for re-election in April 2007 to the Osaka Assembly, but decided to run as an official candidate list of the Democratic Party of Japan, becoming the first-ever openly gay serious contender for election to Japan's parliament. Otsuji fell short of her goal. There have been no openly gay elected officials in Japan since she stepped down from the Osaka Assembly.
June 3, 2007, Otsuji married her partner Maki Kimura, in a public ceremony in Nagoya during an HIV/AIDS prevention festival called Nagoya Lesbian Gay Revolution.Some 1,000 guests attended the wedding.
Although same-sex marriages are not legally recognized in Japan, the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, Ichiro Ozawa, the Secretary General of the Party, Yukio Hatoyama, and Fusae Ota, the Governor of Osaka all sent congratulatory telegrams.
Kanako Otsuji Official Site
Bay Area Reporter
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Out Spotlight LXXXVII
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32 comments:
As always great Spotlight Spesh.
Wow awesome pics of Austin. Those lips! My goodness!
There is not an ounce of fat on that body. Tall and lean Texan.
Austins looks heathly and happy. I am happy for him. Still wish he come out though.
Fascinating spotlight. I know a lot about Japan, having worked many years ago for a Japanese company, but I know very little about gay life there. I would imagine it is very difficult given how much pressure there is generally for people to conform to the "norm".
And ditto Tom. Austin is looking unbelievably hot in that picture. And nice to see he's enjoying himself and getting in some surfing.
Someone mentioned in the previous thread being happy to hear from PG, but I didn't see a post from her. Miss your posts too PG, especially your lunchtime ones.
Glad to see Austin looking so good and enjoying the water. I recall Hilary saying that he disappears on weekends and never discusses what he does with them. Looking forward to OTH and seeing Austin's name in the main credits.
I stumbled upon the story of Kanako Otsuji ad found it very interesting. I hope you get the chance to click on the link about the samurai too it is really interesting
Saw the pictures of Austin first thing this morning before I posted. Damn was the first word out of my mouth - not good to say on Sunday morning before church. Another reason I have the keys still. ; )
I wonder what we will see Jake doing this time next year. Lets say Brothers doesnt go so well for Jake and his reviews are pretty blah. Then lets say PoP is a disaster. What do Mom and Jake do then. Will they still believe reeke is the answer. Will they still believe they got solid advice from Jakes handlers. What will they blame all their problems on then. Still the gay rumors. I think not unless they are both total idiots.
I think that if Jake gets blah reviews in Brothers and it doesn't do well, we will see Reeke ramped up to high gear and the engagement ring will come out. If POP doesn't do well, then I think that the engangement will be broken and Reeke end. Reese can't tie herself to a loser after all.
The response from the trailers seems good. I am just going to wait till it comes out, see it, and see what how well it does.
Quiet all around again today. I saw a great article this week about how top stars are not the draw in movies lately, especially this summer. It's the movie itself that matters. I meant to share it and now I cannot find it again. Am having no luck on the SF chronicle website, which is where I think I saw it. But I could have a fuzzy memory. Oh, well.
I can't be objective about the trailer since I saw the original Brodres. I'm waiting for the reviews to start trailing in. Even if they are good, the subject matter does not have a good track record with the public.
M... so you're saying that you think - even if the movie Brothers is good: good acting, well put together, etc - that it still won't have much appeal with the average viewing public?
i'm wondering about that myself. at first, i had no interest in seeing it, #1: because i'd gotten so train-wrecked about J/R, but also because of #2: it didn't seem like a movie i would like - dark, depressing, Jake's a convict, etc. i didn't even realize the part about his brother in the war, etc.
i wonder the fact that we currently have people off at war will have a positive or negative impact on it's success. i'm thinking it might not be a real fun flick for folks who are currently in the war experience, if that makes sense.
s.
Sienna, in a word, yes. Brothers has a downer plot, and war related movies have not been drawing audiences despite decent reviews. Too soon I think. The only reason I saw the danish version is that it came on tv, the sundance channel or the independent film channel, cant recall which, so I watched to see what it was all about. Not a happy, feel good movie, though well acted. I don't know what Brothers cost to make. It's success will be measured against cost. At least it comes out in Dec, which is a good time for dramas. It's still early, but that looks like a very slow week film wise. Box Office Mojo shows only one other film being released that same week. If that holds, it wont have much competition.
"Brothers" will be a hard sell in these uncertain times for sure. With limited funds for entertainment, as history shows, the American consumer will spend for fun, happy, escapist fare, i.e. "Star Trek" and "Transformers." Doesn't really matter if the movie is sub-par, as is the case of the later, as long as it offers a way to forget for 90+ minutes, that's what will draw the crowds. Folks don't want waste precious dollars on being depressed about current affaris, a world in crises, man's inhumanity to man, war's human toll. They can just turn on CNN for that, as long as they can still afford to pay the Dish bill.
Since the second Iraq war began, not a single movie on the subject, even those about the most popular war of all time, WWII, have been BO favs. Man's inhumanity to all living things is not a subject those who remember 9/11 vividly wish to see.
Add in the crowded end of the year slate, that none of the actors can truly open a movie - Tobey without the Spidey suit certainly can't - and the onus of 'delayed' hanging over, "Brothers", regardless of quality, will need a miracle of large proportions to be deemed even a mild success.
M... Dec is a good time for dramas? Hmmm...... i am not a movie expert at all and don't know about timing for best attendance, etc, but i would think - as a layman - that dec would be a good time for romcoms and CH flix (4 CH's, for ex) and feel good movies. this movie - in spite of the fact that the trailer makes it look good - seems like a really depressing movie, not something i'd want to pop into after a morning of CH shopping.
also, isn't Dec already one of the most depressing months of the year? so for folks who are already struggling to survive till january, i can't see this as a big draw.
i guess a lack of competition would be appealing to the movie makers, but i still have reservations about Dec being the smartest release time for this one.
where is everyone today? s.
mb101 brings up another good point: money.
if the economy is as tight this dec as it has been for a while, folks will probably be a lot less likely to spend their bucks on something that will make them sad, especially in Dec, when they have to spend so much other extra money already.
maybe we should write to the distributors and tell them to reconsider.
i don't feel like the delay in releasing it will have much impact because, realistically, who, besides avid fans of one of the stars, will even realize there is a delay? i doubt it will have much buzz though, and TM is kinda freaky looking in it, and Jake isn't his usual cutie boy hot self either, so they won't be the draw they could be if they were all prettied up.
jmo. s.
Now, the suits could decide to market it as 'come see Reese Witherspoon's BF.'
Yeah, that would REALLY help, wouldn't it?
Jake, Reese and Paul Rudd visited the White House and met Barack Obama. Unfortunatly no picture of Jake with the president.
www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/3684027002/
"President Barack Obama with actress Reese Witherspoon in the Oval Office on June 25, 2009. The president was also joined by actors Paul Rudd and Jake Gyllenhaal; they are filming a movie in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)"
I just had to say that Austin is
absolutely handsome as usual! What
I was trying to say is I hope that
Jake does not cut him completely
out of his life for the sake of his
career! If there are any later photos of Jake and the President,
please post them!!
I do hope that "Brothers" does
okay! Everybody, try to have a good
week! I go back to work today!!
I'm waiting for the reviews to start trailing in.
Me too, can't conclude much based on the trailer.
Since the second Iraq war began, not a single movie on the subject, even those about the most popular war of all time, WWII, have been BO favs.
I don't think "Brothers" will make money, but I hope we're going to see great performances. I think that would be better for Jake's career than bad movie with good BO.
There is something really ironic about Jake, who didn't say a word about the 2008 elections, in contrast to previous elections, getting to meet Obama. And Jake just happened to be there the week of her little visit to the White House. That was convenient. I wonder if there was going to be a mention of that in the US story that was shoved out by MJ.
Just more evidence, imo, that Jake really gets off on some level being Mrs. Witherspoon and getting access to things he couldn't get on his own or through Austin.
Ted is really on the money on this one when he says TT wishes his boyfriend was like George Clooney.
Still beats me why Austin is seemingly okay with this, not only because of the bearding aspect, but what I view, for a lack of a better word, a real class divide. Now I don't think that ordinarily matters in relationships, but in this case the he fact that Jake gains access to certain things by "dating" an A-list star in my opinion comes awfully close to treating Austin like he wouldn't be good enough even if being an out gay couple was okay in HW because he can't give Jake those things.
getting access to things he couldn't get on his own
Wrong.
Jake knows Clintons and Chelsea.
Jake doesn't need a beard for a WH visit, but I bet the beard was happy to have an escort.
But he doesn't know Obama, and Clinton is yesterday's news.
The point is that Jake can't be impressed with a WH tour and "meeting" the President.
Why wouldn't he be impressed at meeting the current President? If not why did he tag along with Reese and Paul? The invitation was extended to Reese and Paul because they were filing there not Jake because he knows the Clinton's from MV, he got invited because he is dating Reese as far as the WH is concerned.
Jake has said nothing about Obama nor the '08 election, at least Reese attended a Obama fundraiser and has spoken about Obama a few times which is more than you can say about Jake.
Yeah, that's why there is a pic of Reese and none of Jake even though he was there, sad.
If not why did he tag along with Reese and Paul?
It was a working week for Jake, he was Reese's escort.
Some must like my work. The entire post was lifted and posted as authored by someone else.
Look Familiar?
I mean they even kept the same pictures.
Maybe Jake just wanted his picture with Obama by himself.
And Obama will be heading to the Vineyard in August for vacation, so Jake was the one person in the group to talk to him about the Vineyard.
And don't say Reese could, she showed up for 3 days one summer and people believe she is a long time resident. I think not.
Check out sogopro for a cool drawing of Austin. It's meant to be an illustration for Pedestrian, but it's still our boy Austin. I looked again at those surfing pics this AM. His shoulders are incredible. What a body.
Yeah, let's all hold our breath waiting for Jake's picture with Obama to show up, Paul too,LOL!!!
I'm sure Hilary gave Obama the 411 on MV, Jake no longer has residence there unless he will be staying with friends or he buys a place of his own there. His parents put there place up for sale. Jake talked him about the Vineyad, yeah right.
No one thought she was along time resident of MV, just a visitor.
Check the Wiki about the Vineyard and see how they are trying to sell her as resident then.
Even more interesting check the edit page and see how they did it.
I can't believe someone lifted your whole post, and not even a credit! I hope you say something to them.
Yeah I did - but they are moderated posts so I don't know what will happen.
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