Japan’s archaic ruling party calls homosexuality a mental disorder

In June, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party distributed a booklet in an intra-party panel meeting that stated that “homosexuality is a mental disorder.” This discriminative thinking runs counter to current Japanese and global acceptance of homosexuality, and highlights the need for greater understanding and awareness from politicians here, especially of the impact they have on individuals’ lives.

The meeting on June 13 was of LDP Diet members of the “Shinto Political Federation.” Shinto is the indigenous faith of Japan.

Other discriminative comments in the pamphlet included, “Homosexuality is a mental issue that is not innate, but an acquired disorder or addiction.” It also stated that, “homosexuality can be changed by rehabilitation therapy or religious belief” and that, “In the world, there are former LGBT people who recovered from homosexuality and gender identity disorder.”

It also said, “We should not legitimatize the sexual lifestyles of sexual minorities as it will become a social problem that will destroy families and society.”

Fostering discrimination that causes suicide

For gay activist and representative of the association Fair, Soshi Matsuoka, perhaps the most frustrating statement from the pamphlet is this – “Suicide by LGBT persons is not due to social discrimination, but due to their personal problems.”

Matsuoka says, “Personal worries do not lead to suicide. LGBT parties are marginalized due to prejudice or discrimination, which causes them to contemplate committing suicide.”

Japanese government out of touch on LGBT issues

Worldwide, the view of homosexuality as an illness has been widely rejected, and the United Nations has called conversion therapy to alter sexual orientation or gender identity bogus.

The Japanese public is also mostly accepting of homosexuality. A 2020 report by the Pew Research Center cites a survey from the year before that shows that 68% of Japanese believe that homosexuality should be accepted by society.

The LDP however, which has been in power, except for only brief periods, since 1955, is not in line with the public’s stance. The Asahi Shimbun newspaper says that in its survey, conducted together with a professor from the University of Tokyo, of candidates who ran in the July Upper House election, it found that the LDP lags far behind other political parties in backing legislation to promote understanding of sexual minorities.

LGBT and allies demonstrate outside LDP HQ

A demonstration against the LDP was staged in front of its headquarters on July 14, with the message “Stand for LGBTQ+ Life.” An openly gay YouTuber, Kazuechan, shared their experience of participating in the demo.

According to Kazuechan, various people joined the protest, including LGBT ally parents and teachers. Kazuechan at first held a placard that said, “Homosexuality is totally not an addiction.” However, someone at the demonstration told Kazuechan that that wording could hurt people who are struggling with addiction. It caused Kazuechan to reflect on whether they in the past had ever used a phrase that may have unintentionally hurt someone.

It is frustrating that while social “minorities” such as LGBT persons, while defending their own rights, are cautious of causing harm to others with their words, many of Japan’s “leaders” show no consideration at all – whether it’s to the rights of minorities or the beliefs of the larger society. Japanese politics needs an urgent change to make politicians accountable to the people, not interest groups. The politicians need to show care for others in the same way that protestors at that demonstration did, with tolerance, understanding, and awareness of their impact on others.