Now taking applications!
LGBT Certificate
The certificate created from the voices of many people / companies
Since 2015, there have been an increasing number of cases where we have provided talks and study sessions on LGBT issues to professionals and companies. In this activity, we have received numerous requests such as “can you provide a certificate to prove that we have studied at JLGA?,” “We’d like some sort of sign that helps LGBT people feel a sense of safety and security using our services” and “We’d like to use the logo of JLGA on our business cards.”
We have also received a lot of opinions from members of the LGBT community such as “It’d make it easier to talk about LGBT issues if I had proof that I have studied at JLGA,” “Our company has started to take actions towards LGBT issues, but I’d like something that can change the mindsets of individuals,” “ I’m too scared to use the LGBT hotline at work, so I want JLGA to get involved,” “since I have LGBT friends / family members, I’d like something to show them that I have studied these issues and some platform where I can acquire the necessary knowledge to support them” and “I’d like to get a certificate for my children.”
We have also received voices from caregivers that they are in urgent need of a certificate that proves that they have studied LGBT issues.
Having heard those voices, we felt the need to create opportunities where people can get information about and stay familiar with LGBT issues by creating an organization that continuously and proactively provides study sessions and related news / information.
Throughout the 15 year history of JLGA, we have come to realize that the worries and concerns that LGBT people feel are often times hard for other people to understand and that there are many cases where we subconsciously hurt their feelings.
Therefore, in order to make society better for LGBT people and to create an impartial environment for every sex / gender where they have options, we firmly believe that the most important thing is to educate people in what kind of obstacles LGBT people face and equip them with comprehensive knowledge about LGBT people.
Having taken all we mentioned above into consideration, we have come to create this certificate program so that we can be the bridge between society, allies and LGBT people.
Of course, we are aware that our certificate program does not cover every aspect of LGBT issues and does not tangibly measure one’s understanding of the issues.
However, it is an undeniable fact that there is so much we can do to support LGBT people by knowing the obstacles that LGBT people face everyday. Therefore, in hopes to raise awareness of the issues, we have decided to carry out this certificate program.
Meaning of increasing “Allies”
In a nutshell, it is “to make a society where every sex / gender can live with a sense of security.” In order to realize that, making as many options as possible available for LGBT people in various situations will be a prerequisite.
Often times they have fewer options or no options at all. Regardless of sex or gender, trying to understand one another is very important in order to sustain a social life.
There are many obstacles LGBT people face, as they can often be invisible in our society. JLGA believes that increasing the number of people who are aware of those obstacles leads to more life options for LGBT people and helps them live a life where they can feel a sense of security.
Why certificate?
The word “certificate” conjures a somewhat similar image among people. Therefore, the whole society can organically get involved. Many can get involved without putting themselves on guard. JLGA believes that this is the appeal of the term “certificate.”
We hope that this certificate program will open doors to those who are not discriminative, yet who are indifferent to LGBT issues, and make them want to know more about these issues.
Can a certificate equip one with necessary knowledge to talk about all aspects of LGBT issues correctly? – The answer is no.
However, by creating this certificate as an indicator, we would like to increase the number of people who are familiar with LGBT people and issues.
Some might think that having only close friends and family be familiar is enough. However, JLGA feels that the more people are familiar, the quicker society changes.
We feel that creating an environment where many can easily get involved in the issues is necessary to create a flat environment where every sex and gender can feel a sense of security.
Who should get the certificate?
We feel that the certificate would be especially helpful for those who work in human resources, customer services, professional services and companies as well as those who own and run their own companies.
Those who want to get involved in LGBT issues but are unsure how, as well as those who are currently not in employment, are also very much welcome to participate in this certificate program.
(There is a requirement to take part in all three of the sessions, which amounts to a total of six hours to obtain the certificate.)
Where JLGA wants participants to make use of the certificate
For example, at educational institutions.
If there is someone at school who has the certificate, even if there is only one person, and if it is visible to the students, we are certain that this will help students.
There are more than 50,000 educational institutions* in Japan.
(Kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school etc…)
※Statistics Bureau http://www.stat.go.jp/library/faq/faq22/faq22a01.htm
For example, in customer services.
Those in the customer service sector can create more options for LGBT people in numerous kinds of situations in their everyday life by making use of the certificate.
For example, at companies.
Those in human resources can create a working environment that is comfortable for all sexes and genders by making use of the certificate.
Goals of the certificate.
Upon the commencement of the certificate program, JLGA hopes to create an environment where every sex and gender can feel a sense of security.
In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary for LGBT people to have access to appropriate services or life options, and in order to improve these, support from allies is extremely important.
For example, when renting an apartment, when choosing a school, when going on a trip, when inviting a plumber into the house, if the person in charge has a certificate badge, it helps to show that they have successfully completed the certificate program.
The amount of knowledge one can acquire by reading books varies by person. Of course, the kind of knowledge you can get from them is excellent, yet partaking in the certificate program and making the knowledge learned visible to LGBT people helps them access appropriate services.
By objectively showing that those who interact with LGBT people in various situations, such as teachers, travel agents and property agents, are allies, JLGA is determined to create an environment where every sex and gender can feel a sense of security.
We also hope to create a virtuous cycle where LGBT people can receive better service by letting those with the certificate know the opinions of LGBT people in cases where LGBT people have opinions and requests towards them.
※The certificate does not guarantee the service quality of those who have acquired the certificate.
※JLGA uses the term “LGBT” throughout this website, as used by the UN.
http://www.unic.or.jp/activities/humanrights/discrimination/lgbt/