Joshb1991 comments

More like they are very open and willing to accept it so long as it isn't in their family. LGBT people are on TV and in the news daily here, people know. It isnt awareness per-say, but acceptance of difference and diversity.

But are they really on TV? Sure there are a few trans women or "new halves" as they like to call them here. Maybe there are also a few celebrities who crossdress and are a bit eccentric. That is great for transgender people, of course. but do you know any famous gay or lesbian celebrities on TV in Japan who aren't shown for laughs? Or any gay storylines in TV dramas or major characters? Becuase I haven't seen any yet.

Also, I wouldn't say they are open to accepting it. In Tokyo, perhaps so. However, outside of Tokyo it isn't all that great. I can't imagine me coming out as gay in the school where I teach going down very well. At the very least I would get some dirty looks and whisperings of "kimochi warui"

So this only applies overseas where same-sex marriage is legal? I know in Shibuya you can now get a "certificate" that grants some basic rights to same sex couples but I am not really understanding it Will Panasonic be helping those couples too?

On a broader scale, Japan is really very lacking when it comes to LGBT awareness. Some of the ignorance I have seen is astounding. I am pretty sure your average Japanese citizen equates all of the LGBT spectrum under "okama", or some kind of transgender-ism. While I am not trying to single out transsexuals, the average gay male or female in Japan does not belong to that group what-so-ever. I have also heard the "every gay man is a carrier of AIDS!" before, too. A little bit of education of the subject would go a long, long way to resolving some of the issues LGBT people face here

Supporting links please. Well while I'm at it http://www.trueorigin.org/gaygene01.php http://www.livescience.com/50058-being-gay-not-a-choice.html http://www.mygenes.co.nz/summary.htm I have nothing against gays personally, but all the facts should be laid out

How about the fact that I AM gay? Oh wait, sorry. I forgot people know more about my own sexuality than I do.

And "the Myth of Evolution"? Are you trolling?

Not a surprising outcome. We need to understand that with Japan's dire demographics, encouraging same-sex relationships is not something that is advisable.

Ah yes, the classic myth. Unless you have been living under a rock, you'd know that being gay is genetic. Thus, allowing gay marriage isn't going to suddenly change any demographics for the 150 million heterosexuals living in Japan.

Unless of course you are suggesting that all the homosexuals repress their sexuality and find a wife and have children who they will have to lie to and decieve? Way to contribute to Japan's marital misery.

Tired of homophobes using excuses such as christianity and population to cover up their own prejudices and hatred of gays.

As a gay man living in Japan with my Japanese boyfriend of 3 years, I must say that Japan really is not accepting of LGBT people. Yes I have quite a few young friends who are supportive, but the overall pressure to stay in the closet here is immence. My boyfriend, a medical student and future doctor, despite wanting to come out fears for his job security seeing as there are no anti-discrimination laws to protect him here. And despite being totally out in my home country of the UK- it seems like I would be comitting social suicide by coming out, judging by figures like the one in this article (70% of over 40's not accepting gays in the work place) Absoloutly terrifying.

The catch 22 being though, that if no one starts coming out, people are still going to have the same, prejuediced and outdated views on gays.