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Free housing to be offered to impoverished LGBTs in Tokyo

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With well over 500,000 homeless in the US this guy is trying to say that 40%, are LGBT meaning over 200,000?

It didn't say that 40% of homeless are LGBT, it said 40% of young homeless. How many of the 500,000 homeless in the US are young?

40 percent of young, homeless people

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Quite a number of countries put LGBT people into government-funded accommodation. Unfortunately, they then throw away the keys.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Helping homeless a worthy thing, but why focus on their sexual orientation as a driver of providing assistance?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

In the United States, 40 percent of young, homeless people are said to be LGBTs," said Tsuyoshi Inaba, a member of the organization and a specially appointed associate professor at the Rikkyo University. "I want to raise more awareness (in Japan) about this issue."

With well over 500,000 homeless in the US this guy is trying to say that 40%, are LGBT meaning over 200,000?

We need a serious fact checker here!

5 ( +11 / -6 )

The article says:

40 percent of young, homeless people are said to be LGBTs,"

Yubaru says:

With well over 500,000 homeless in the US this guy is trying to say that 40%, are LGBT meaning over 200,000?

Unless those are accurate stats for young homeless people, then no, that's not what he said at all.

It is depressing to see comments here which criticise/mock efforts to help homeless people - often people who have lost their jobs, and been rejected by their families.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

For those querying the figure of 40% of young homeless in the U.S. being LGBT that is referenced, I have seen this figure before. Here is a link to the study / survey / research I believe is being referenced.

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/americas-shame-40-of-homeless-youth-are-lgbt-kids/

As with all research, undoubtedly some may take issue with the figures, but that is where I believe the figure came from.

When I clicked on this story, I had thought it was some sort of government assistance program. I see that it is not. Therefore, hats off to the group that conceived this idea.

No one should be homeless and I applaud anyone that makes an effort to address the issue.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I believe it quite possible that 40% of young homeless are LGBT; I recently learned how many LGBT kids (15 - 20) are killed because of their sexual orientation. Killed by family, police, and strangers they encounter on the street after their families have kicked them out.

However, if I read just the title, I can see how WA4TG would assume being “gay” would get him or her an apartment in Tokyo. Not quite the reality WA4TG thinks it is.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

With well over 500,000 homeless in the US this guy is trying to say that 40%, are LGBT meaning over 200,000?

It's in the interest of LGBT groups to maximize their "member" numbers. All special interest groups do this, which is why such numbers quoted in the media can be safely ignored.

By some standards, anyone who has had even one same-sex encounter would be LGBT. Homeless in particular are more likely to have offered sex for money or shelter. When that happens it's almost always two men. These would be called gay men as well, though many of them are only gay out of necessity.

They talk a lot about respecting what people "identify as." Do they respect young homeless men who identify as straight even though they have same sex encounters? I doubt it. Otherwise there is no way they can come up with a 40% figure.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

A bit misleading to call this "assistance," as it's crowd funded. The info in this article suggests this is not a public program.

this guy is trying to say that 40%, are LGBT

He says "young" so maybe he's referring to teenagers and early adults. I imagine many would be runaways, although 40 percent still seems high.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

What Maria said.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

"In the United States, 40 percent of young, homeless people are said to be LGBTs," What is that to say statistically USA to compare Japan? Why it's not explained the % in all Japan?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What? There's some correlation between homelessness and LGBT.....???

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Entirely appropriate comparison between the US and Japan. Upon seeing how a problem in another country (mistreatment of LGBT youth) is being poorly dealt with, one group has decided to deal with the problem in his own country - and this group doesn't deny that it is a problem here, for the spokesman lists the problems Japanese youth have to face - even in a small way.

I don't see the link where the group has asked anyone here for money. Japantoday translators must have forgotten to include the crowdfunding link. Could we have it, please?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Why it's not explained the % in all Japan?

Those statistics have likely never been gathered.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Helping homeless a worthy thing, but why focus on their sexual orientation as a driver of providing assistance?

I think the reason is hinted at in the article:

Although there is already some private-sector accommodation for homeless people, it is difficult for LGBT people to use them because most units have to be shared with people of the same sex.

I take it that this in particular means that the non-LBGT residents might feel uncomfortable sharing with them.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Legally you cannot discriminate based upon sexual orientation in the US

This is absolutely untrue. There are no protections federally in the constitution, some states and some cities have their own protection but in most states it is perfectly legal to fire someone, or kick them out of their job just because they are LGBT

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Expat," you are right there IS a stinginess suspected. One reason is fraud--organized "groups" sign up confused homeless (it is reported) for public benefits and then take a cut of those. Another reason is the tight welfare expenditure budget of the current, rapidly greying period of Japan's population. The baby-boom here is similar to Euro-USA in years, but the rate of "greying" (increasing in population disproportionately in the higher age-groups) is said to be numerically higher. Yet, after this hump (the end of which I will not see, but you the reader??) , there may be a whole different story.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I forgot to mention the minority-sex-specific matter: Even false rumors of being Transsexual or Lesbian can cause one to search in vain for a female roommate (necessary for less expensive housing than living alone). Fortunately, in Japan, there is some effort to extend the mercy of curiosity to determine the reality of such distinctions. This may preserve one from lynchings such as today's Japan Times reports occurring sometimes by human error in India. Lesser discriminations--such as "needle-pricks"--are of course similar in origin and difficulty of removal. I can imagine if one were really of such a minority, an unsympathetic family or neighborhood could be quite hard to endure--such significant others would lead to self-contempt and the consequences of that might become legion (along with the difficulty of living at a polite distance from a roommate of the same sex--the reason given in the above article for the special housing). Especially for the young, it might be like living with a regular HETERO- spouse under circumstances of hyped-up hormonal activity during the post-active phase of the spouse's sexual life--something many of Japan's "sexless marriages" participants can understand!! Mohandas Gandhi and Kasturbai (his wife) were not the only spouses who opted for celibacy in their elder years.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Special dispensation based on sexual preference? Why? A person's economic situation should the criterion.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The baby-boom here is similar to Euro-USA in years, but the rate of "greying" (increasing in population disproportionately in the higher age-groups) is said to be numerically higher. Yet, after this hump (the end of which I will not see, but you the reader??) , there may be a whole different story.

The average age in Western nations is kept lower my migrants who also use to have a lot of kids and by some gov child support measurements. European regions with few or no migrants and a lower economic status have reached the average age of Japan already. Japan will nevertheless top the charts as they outperform Western nations on longevity :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Helping homeless a worthy thing, but why focus on their sexual orientation as a driver of providing assistance?

I totally agree, it is a worthy cause, but to me he is looking for assistance, meaning money here. This article is a clever fund raiser for him and his house.

The operational costs will be covered with money raised through crowdfunding.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

agree with @yubaru. ..."LGBT support house," will begin with just one dwelling in Tokyo's Nakano Ward... 123,000,000 million people in Japan. usually in human societies around 10% fit this category. that means 120,000 people can stay in this house.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It is depressing to see comments here which criticise/mock efforts to help homeless people - often people who have lost their jobs, and been rejected by their families.

Nice try, but no, inflating numbers to get a sympathy vote, and doing the exact thing that Japanese themselves are loathe to hear from the mouth of a foreigner, make a comparison about Japan with a foreign country, and then YES he deserves criticism and a hell of a lot of it too.

What he and his group are doing, based upon merit alone, is worthy of support, BUT it is wrong to play on the emotions of people to get others to support you!

I believe it quite possible that 40% of young homeless are LGBT; I recently learned how many LGBT kids (15 - 20) are killed because of their sexual orientation. Killed by family, police, and strangers they encounter on the street after their families have kicked them out.

Not in Japan they aren't, Ostracized by family members, many yes that's true. Murdered? Not here.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

The operational costs will be covered with money raised through crowdfunding.

The entire point of the article. Folks here on JT are for the most part, with a few glaring exceptions, tolerant about these types of issues, and rightfully support them too.

Folks who will donate, have a high level of awareness regarding social issues like these. If they want my money, come out on top and say so. No need for statistics, real or otherwise.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Entirely appropriate comparison between the US and Japan. 

No it isn't and not by a long way. If both countries had the same laws I might agree, but Japan is far behind the US when it comes to openly recognizing LGBT rights. Legally you can not discriminate based upon sexual orientation in the US, here there are no such laws.

You are comparing apples to bowling balls to support your opinion.

for the spokesman lists the problems Japanese youth have to face - even in a small way.

This is truly weak, Re-read the first three paragraphs of the article;

Free housing in Tokyo will be offered from November to impoverished sexual minorities, the first such assistance to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, a support group said.

The group plans to offer a temporary home to LGBTs and help them become self-sufficient, as many become homeless after being assaulted by family members or partners or quit their jobs due to workplace harassment.

"In the United States, 40 percent of young, homeless people are said to be LGBTs," said Tsuyoshi Inaba, a member of the organization and a specially appointed associate professor at the Rikkyo University. "I want to raise more awareness (in Japan) about this issue."

There is nothing in the article that states age, he puts out numbers based upon a totally different society, and you are assuming that he is talking about the same here.

Your emotions get pulled into the issue because you assume it's about the youth, but he makes no mention of that being the focus of his work.

You said youth he said young and that is NOT semantics, 20 or 30 year old people are young too.

He legally can not assist or help youth with housing and self-sufficiency issues unless he is licensed as such by a government authority. Youth are the responsibility of the appropriate government agencies.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Great news.

Let's see what other countries extend free housing to those of the LGBT communities like Japan is doing here.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

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