Even in my native language, it took me many years before feeling comfortable and confident in my ability to express myself, and engage in conversations regarding gender and sexuality. When learning Japanese, I felt like I had to undergo that process all over again. I felt lost explaining topics like “coming out,” “how I realized my sexuality”, or explaining my identity to people with little LGBTQ understanding. While in my native language, if met with a hostile remark, I can quickly think of a comeback, in my second language I often find myself laughing off or ignoring such comments. I appreciate having this space to talk because we can think about these issues together, safely make mistakes, and seek advice from one another. It is always a highlight of my week to get to chat with everyone at JRCC and have a place to discuss LGBTQ experiences in different cultures!