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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Anthony S. DiStefano, PhD, MPH, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1300, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415-597-9310, anthony.distefano@ucsf.edu

Purpose: This study describes the perceptions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersexual persons regarding how they are treated by mainstream (i.e., heterosexual, sexual majority) Japanese society, parity of access to human rights, and mental health issues in their community. Methods: Ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in 2003-04 using in-depth, qualitative interviews with sexual minority individuals (N=36), archival research, and participant observation in an urban sexual minority community. Resulting qualitative data were inductively coded and analyzed for emergent themes and conceptual connections. Results: Participants perceived that mainstream Japanese society typically views sexual minorities negatively, or does not recognize their existence at all. Discrimination was reported in government policies, a conservative health care system, employment, housing, education, and donating blood. Most sexual minorities do not disclose their true sexual identities to avoid such discrimination and other forms of abuse. Nondisclosure and repeated experience of discrimination were perceived as associated with poor mental health outcomes. Negative social consequences of disclosure were reported as more severe for women. Conclusions: Japanese sexual minorities experience stigma and discrimination –both explicit and subtly obscured- which are perceived to result in poor mental health outcomes. Level of homophobia relative to other industrialized societies was not measured, but a perceived lack of equity in human rights was documented. A feasible and non-paternalistic strategy to address disparities may involve increased mobilization of grassroots community efforts to advocate for training on sexual minority issues in key sectors: health care providers, attorneys, social services staff, police, and policymakers in relevant government ministries.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• List 6 types of discrimination experienced by sexual minorities in Japan.
• Recognize mental health outcomes potentially associated with discrimination.
• Identify 5 key sectors where educational intervention might have the most effect.

Keywords: Gay, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.pdf format, 6494.3 kb)