In line with the World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023, the Pride House Fukuoka will be set up to provide LGBTQ+ information on 22nd and 23rd of July. The LGBTQ+ information booth will be installed at the tournament’s official Fun Zone with the city of Fukuoka.

A talk event will be held in Fukuoka city, inviting Bill May, who will be competing for the US National Artistic Swimming Team at this year’s World Aquatics Championships and other Japanese Olympians. There will also be an LGBTQ+ inclusive exchange event.

 

The “Pride House Tokyo” consortium, which started with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (hereinafter referred to as “Tokyo 2020”), has been working to realize a sports world and society in which everyone can play an active role as their authentic selves, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or gender expression.

Major international sporting events, which bring together a wide range of people from Japan and abroad, have the power to generate great social interest. Pride House Tokyo, which was established in the wake of Tokyo 2020 and has expanded its circle of activities, believes that major international sporting events will serve as an opportunity to broaden the understanding of social issues and diversity.

Therefore, in line with the World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023, Pride House Tokyo will work to disseminate information about LGBTQ+ and create a safe and inclusive place as “Pride House Fukuoka (*1) ” on July 22nd (Saturday) and 23rd (Sunday) in Fukuoka City.

*1 “Pride House Fukuoka” is a project of the Pride House Tokyo Athletes’ Messages Team (planned and operated by S.C.P. Japan), and is mainly implemented by “NPO Colorful Change Lab”, “NPO Rainbow Soup”, “S.C.P. Japan”, which are members of the Pride House Tokyo Consortium, and experts. 

 

Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pride House International!

With the launch of “Pride House Fukuoka”, the Pride House Tokyo signed a memorandum of understanding with Pride House International (*2). At the sports event, which will bring together athletes, coaches, officials, staff, volunteers and fans from around the world, we will expand our work to disseminate LGBTQ+ information and activities through sports not only domestically but also internationally.

*2 Pride House International is the guiding body supporting local organizations to deliver Pride House, a hospitable facility for LGBTQ+ people and allies to promote LGBTQ+ equality at large-scale sporting events. 

 

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Pride House Fukuoka’s Initiatives (July 22 and 23)

Pride House Fukuoka will carry out the following initiatives on July 22 (Saturday) and 23 (Sunday)(*3).  

*3 The following initiatives have been approved as Official Programs and Support Programs for the World Swimming Championships – Fukuoka 2023. 

 

[Saturday, July 22nd]

(1) Set up an LGBTQ+ information booth in the tournament’s official Fun Zone

Pride House Tokyo, in cooperation with Fukuoka City, will set up an LGBTQ+ information booth in the Fan Zone, which will be located at the venue during the tournament. We will be handing out various brochures and displaying panels about LGBTQ+ and sports. Please be sure to stop by if you will be around the venue.

 

■ Date and Time: Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

■ Location:Special location next to Marine Messe Hall B Fukuoka Ichiba (2-1 Okihama-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka city)

■ Booth Name: Human Rights Promotion Section, Human Rights Department of Fukuoka City & Pride House Fukuoka

■Co-hosted by: Fukuoka City, Pride House Tokyo Consortium

■Supported by: Athletes’ Committee of the Japanese Swimming Federation, Pride House International 

■Funded by: Nippon Foundation

 

(2) “DIVING NIGHT! – LGBTQ+ Inclusive Exchange Party presented by Pride House Fukuoka -”

In Fukuoka City, we will provide a place where everyone can gather and interact with a sense of safety, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or gender expression. Let’s learn and talk together about gender and sexual diversity, including LGBTQ+, while watching the Men’s 10m Platform Diving Final at the World Aquatics Championships. We will also provide information about “Pride House” and the international LGBTQ+ movement in sports. An MC and DJs from Fukuoka will liven up the party.

■Date and Time: Saturday, July 22, 2023 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

*Registration will begin at 17:30.

■Location: lyf Tenjin Fukuoka (3F, 1-2-13 Imaizumi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, 810-0021)

■Entry Fee: 2500 yen per person (includes a drink ticket and a light meal)

■Host by: Pride House Tokyo Consortium

■Co-hoseted by: lyf Tenjin Fukuoka

■Supported by: Pride House International 

■Founded by: Nippon Foundation

 

■How to Participate: Pre-registration is required. Please register from the link below (entry fee will be collected on site)

https://forms.gle/jpUUhRfRS3QJqvEJ9
Application Deadline: Friday, July 21 at 5 pm (The application form will be closed without notice once it reaches capacity)

 

 

[Sunday, July 23rd]

(1) “PRIDE TALK SHOW – Towards a LGBTQ+ Inclusive Society from the Swimming World”

We will provide an LGBTQ+ inclusive open space and hold a talk event inviting athletes from Japan and abroad at the time of the World Aquatics Championships, where many people gather. In addition to serving as a safe place for everyone, including LGBTQ+ people and those who feel they may be LGBTQ+, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, we will create opportunities for people to learn about and think about LGBTQ+ issues.

■Date and Time: Sunday, July 23, 2023 4:00pm – 5:00pm
*On the same day, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., this space will be open as a place to interact with some of the members of Pride House Fukuoka and other visitors, and to learn about LGBTQ+ (panel exhibition and informational brochures will be available).  

■Holding Method: In-person/ Online

■Location: 

<In-person>WeWork Daimyo 1st floor (1F, 1-1-29 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka)

<Online> The link to view the event will be provided via email

 

■Speakers: 

▷Panelists

・Bill May (Mixed Duet World Champion, Artistic Swimming (2015))

・Kyoko Iwasaki Gold medalist in the 200m breaststroke in 1992 Barcelona Olympics)

・Yusuke Shimizu (Olympian, Water Polo 2016 Rio de Janeiro & 2020 Tokyo)

・Fumino Sugiyama (Japanese National Fencing Team in the 2004 Fencing World Championship/ Japanese Olympic Committee Board Member)

 

▷Mederator

・ Aya Noguchi (Co-director of Pride House Tokyo/ Director of S.C.P. Japan)

 

■Participation Fee: Free

■Host by: Pride House Tokyo Consortium

■Supported by: WeWork Japan, Athletes’ Committee of the Japanese Swimming Federation, Pride House International 

■Founded by: Nippon Foundation

■How to Participate: Pre-registration is required. Please register from the link below.

https://forms.gle/jpUUhRfRS3QJqvEJ9
Application Deadline: Friday, July 21 at 5 pm