東京：同性愛者パレード開催へ 社会の理解求め３年ぶり / Tokyo pride set for Sat. after 3-year hiatus

同性愛者パレード開催へ　社会の理解求め３年ぶり (共同 2005/08/09)

　同性愛者ら性的少数者の存在を少しでも知ってもらおうと「東京レズビアン＆ゲイパレード」が１３日、東京で３年ぶりに開催される。

　パレードは１９９４年に始まり数回開かれたが、２００２年を最後に開催されていなかった。実行委員の負担が重すぎたことが主な理由で、今年になってパレードの運営を担う常置の団体をつくり、復活にこぎ着けた。

　参加者は思い思いのスタイルでパレードを楽しむ。主催者によると、派手なメークとコスチュームの「女王様」や「私の自慢の息子はゲイです」と書かれたシャツを着た女性も登場する。

　前回は沿道から声援を送る「応援隊」も結成され、約３７００人が集まった。パレードに直接参加しなくても、すぐそばにいれば雰囲気を共有することができるという。

（共同通信） - 8月9日6時24分更新

Tuesday August 9, 7:56 AM
Tokyo gay pride parade set for Sat. after 3-year hiatus

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT WEBSITE http://www.tlgp.org/ )

Gays, lesbians and their friends in Japan will hold a gay pride parade Saturday in Tokyo after a three-year hiatus, according to organizers.

The parade had been held a few times since 1994, but a "heavy logistical burden" forced the organizers to suspend the event after 2002, they said.

The organizers planned the parade once again after setting up a permanent steering committee for the event earlier this year.

Participants are invited to wear casual and free-style costumes, the organizers said. There will also be a "queen" wearing flamboyant makeup and costume as well as a woman wearing a T-shirt that says, "My son whom I'm proud of is a gay."

The 2002 parade attracted about 3,700 participants, including cheerleading groups along the parade route.

"We haven't set a unified slogan, but are expecting thousands of participants united in their common cause as sexual minorities and their supporters," said Hideki Sunagawa, 38, a committee member in charge of publicity.

"We want the public to know that there is a diverse group of sexual minorities around them," he said.

The parade will start at 3 p.m. Saturday from Yoyogi Park in Shibuya Ward.


東京レズビアン＆ゲイパレード / Tokyo Lesbian & Gay Parade 2005