LGBTQ+ and other sexual minorities are known to be at higher risk for suicide and self-harm. In Japan, studies (Kamano: 2023)*1 have shown that they are two to three times more likely than the general population to experience mental health challenges. In East Asia, the legacy of patriarchy contributes to intense social pressure to marry and have children, resulting in very few LGBTQ+ people coming out to those around them. LGBTQ+ individuals are rendered invisible at home, in schools, at workplaces, and in communities. Legal systems also exclude them, as Japan lags behind in enacting legislation such as marriage equality and comprehensive anti-discrimination laws. In Japanese society, there are sadly very few safe spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals can breathe freely.

Since 2014, the certified non-profit organization Nijiiro*2 Diversity has been conducting research on LGBTQ+ issues in collaboration with academic researchers. In Japan, LGBTQ+ individuals are also absent from national statistics—there is no official statistics. Surveys reveal heartrending responses such as “I can’t tell my parents,” “I’m bullied at school,” “I hide my identity at work,” and “I’m isolated in my community.” As society continues to erase their existence, LGBTQ+ individuals are found to have lower educational attainment, income, and physical and mental health*3.

Inside the Pride Center Osaka and its staff

To change these circumstances, Nijiiro Diversity established Pride Center Osaka in 2022. The center houses more than 750 books on LGBTQ+ topics and offers community events and counseling services. It is the first permanent LGBTQ+ center in western Japan and has welcomed over 4,300 visitors from across the country. Some visitors have said, “This is the only place where I can breathe freely.” The center powerfully illustrates how vital such safe spaces are for LGBTQ+ individuals to live authentically. The center also receives inquiries from individuals who have fled countries where being LGBTQ+ is criminalized. Amid global instability, LGBTQ+ individuals—being a social minority—are increasingly targeted and displaced.

By 2050, we must ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals everywhere can find a safe, affirming space to be themselves. To achieve this, countries must advance legal reforms—decriminalizing LGBTQ+ identities, prohibiting discrimination, and explicitly incorporating LGBTQ+ perspectives in international frameworks like the SDGs. The fact that LGBTQ+ issues are not explicitly mentioned in the SDGs is itself a serious gap.

In Japan, alongside legislative efforts, there is a pressing need to expand spaces like Pride Center Osaka nationwide. Such centers are critical infrastructure for preventing the isolation of LGBTQ+ individuals and building connections with society. We must build collaborative systems that allow civil society, government agencies, corporations, educational institutions, and healthcare providers to jointly operate and sustain these centers.

The Inochi Forum, in collaboration with diverse support organizations, encourages all stakeholders to acknowledge that LGBTQ+ individuals are an integral part of society and to reflect their voices in all policies. The voices of those who are often overlooked or who find it difficult to speak out are the key to building a brighter future where every Inochi unleashes its radiant light.

[Notes]

*1 Saori Kamano et. al. (2023) “Report of the National Survey of Family, Gender/Sexuality and Diversity”.
https://www.hosei.ac.jp/press/info/article-20231027123950/

*2 Nijiiro means “rainbow-colored”

*3 「nijiVOICE2024」
https://nijibridge.jp/report/

[References]

・Pride Center Osaka
https://pridecenter.jp/

・Certified NPO Nijiiro Diversity
http://www.nijiirodiversity.jp/

[Action Platform]
Diversity and Inclusion

[SDGs]