Interviews
Becoming the First LGBTQ Judge to Serve on the Hawaii Supreme Court
I learned that although in about 77% of white youth come out to their parents, that number is only 51% for Asian Pacific American youth. And I realized why. It's because the Asian-American, Pacific, Asian Pacific American population is not necessarily as accepting of the LGBTQ community. And I think there's various reasons for that. I think part one of the main reasons is that the Asian Pacific American population in the United States tends to be much higher percentage of first or second generation, the first generation actually.
And, you know, I think being in the United States for a while, sometimes it changes things culturally depending on where you are, of course. But when I realized those statistics, I realized how important it was for people like me to be more open. And so when the governor on January 25, 2011, had the press conference, my then partner and our three children were in the audience. It was a very small audience and the media was all there.
And afterwards, one of the media approached the governor's press secretary and asked if I would be willing to speak on record, because the journalist had asked my partner, “Who are you?” And she said, “Oh, I'm her partner”. And the journalist said, “Oh, law partner?” And she said, “Oh, no, partner, partner.” And so the media was like, “Oh, wow.”
Date: July 14, 2022
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Lana Kobayashi
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum; Japanese American Bar Association
Explore More Videos
Nihongo gakko - Preserving Japanese culture (Spanish)
(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.
Not wanting to stand out as a foreigner
Sansei Japanese American living in Japan and Kendo practioner
Have compassion for all of humanity
(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.
Identity crisis (Spanish)
(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.
Never sang Enka outside the family
(b. 1981) Enka Singer
Both Japanese and American identities though Japanese dance
(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer
Results of being more American than Japanese
(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist
Trying to convey the meaning of the songs
(b. 1981) Enka Singer
Internship on a Native American reservation in Arizona
(b.1952) Master drummer, artistic director of the Taiko Center of the Pacific
Different tension between East Coast and Los Angeles
Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan
Differences between American and Japanese taiko
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Meeting Japanese Americans from the mainland in MIS
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Sudden acceptance in Japanese society
(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan