Tokyo Games Volunteers Learn About Lgbtq People
Citizens who will volunteer at the upcoming Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games took part in a seminar on Thursday to deepen their understanding of people from the LGBTQ community.
LGBTQ people served as instructors at the online seminar attended by 430 Tokyo Games volunteers.
The instructors told the participants about how they suffered in the past due to their fears of being discriminated against.
They asked the volunteers to bear in mind during the games that there will be various people. The volunteers' activities will include guiding spectators and others.
The instructors said that when asked where the restrooms are, volunteers should always give directions to the men's, women's, and barrier-free toilets.
They also advised the volunteers to wear something with rainbow colors to show their understanding toward the LGBTQ community. They said this would help such people feel comfortable about talking to the volunteers.
One of the instructors, Matsunaka Gon, said some people argue that gender discrimination strongly persists in sports because competitions are divided by gender.
But Matsunaka expressed hope that the Tokyo Games, which promote "unity in diversity," will help facilitate understanding toward the LGBTQ community.
The instructors help run Pride House Tokyo Legacy, a center aimed at advancing people's understanding of the LGBTQ community and eliminating discrimination against it.
Such facilities have been established during large-scale international sporting events, including the Olympics and Paralympics. The first Pride House center was launched in 2010.
Pride House Tokyo Legacy is the first such facility officially recognized by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It operates as part of the official program of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee.