Discusses NPO All-Japan Sexual Minorities Support Network for Social Inclusion (JaSMin) NGO that supports Political lobbying, urge local government policy reform, create training material for care-givers, hold LGBT awareness seminars, phone counselling, 24-hour helpline, offer group support, provide LGBT support info, etc.

1. Shelters Where Sexual
Minorities can Find Safety
~ Redesigning Gender to end social exclusion
& create a more inclusive support system.
Minata Hara
(Executive Director, All-Japan Sexual Minorities
Support Network Working for an Inclusive Society)
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2. About our organization
NPO All-Japan Sexual Minorities Support
Network for Social Inclusion (JaSMin)
We conduct: Political lobbying, urge local
government policy reform, create training material
for care-givers, hold LGBT awareness seminars,
phone counselling, 24-hour helpline, offer group
support, provide LGBT support info, etc.
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3. Understanding Diverse
Genders & Sexualities
Educational video funded
by <Gender Equality
Center Yokohama ＞
An Easy Guide to
Diverse Genders and
Sexualities.
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4. Peer support Phone Line Project
We conduct Toll-free phone consultation
every Monday.
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5. Collaboration with other
organizations
24 ｈｒ . toll-free
nationwide phone
counselling
“Yorisoi Helpline”
Push # ４ for
Gender and
Sexuality
06/14/13
Counselling

6. Calls on gender and sexuality
In FY2012, there were
over 10 million calls.
5% of all callers selected
#3 DV line. 4% selected #4
LGBT line. We received
380,000 calls altogether.
This coincides with the
estimate that LGBTs
comprise about 4~5% of
the population in Japan.

7. Yorisoi phone call statistics
（ by line purpose, April 2012 ～ March 2013 ）
Calls Registered
Answered
Ratio
#1 General
issues
8,525,905
274,241
3.22 ％
79.75 ％
5# Suicide
prevention
1,174,393
21,675
1.85 ％
10.99 ％
#3 DV, Sexual
assault
559,527
39,722
7.10%
5.23%
#2 Foreign
languages
46,198
14,414
31.20%
0.43%
384,500 34,702
9.03 ％
3.60 ％
3.54%
100.00%
#4 Gender &
Sexuality
Other
Total
187,704
10,878,227
384,754

8. ＃４ LGBT line in 2013
•Increased stations from 8 to １ 1
•We have 2 lines: Nation-wide ＆ disaster area
•Phone counsellors ：１００
•We need at least one station in each prefecture
Nationwide
Registered
calls/ day
1000+
Answered 100+ daily
calls
Connection
rate
10%
Disaster area
30+
15+
50%

9. #4 Line Callers Profile
Gender of callers
General
line
Male
Female
TG or X
LGBT line
General line: M=47.2 ％、 F=52.4 ％、 TG or X=0.4 ％
LGBT line: 24.9 ％ was Transgender or X gender.
（ 264/1060 cases ）

10. LGBT Line Profile
Age bracket / line
Age
10-29
Age 30+
LGBT
Line
General
Line
LGBT callers need help from a younger age.
About half of those calling #4 are between ages 10-29.

11. What we found out from the callers:
Many LGBT people suffer:
1)Child abuse at home
2)Sexual, gender and moral harassment: at
work and in the community:
3)Gender discrimination in society
4)Physical, sexual violence
5)Intimate partner violence
But LGBT people had nowhere to turn to in
times of trouble or personal crisis.

12. What we found out:
At rape crisis centers and consultation
phones, many LGBTs suffered “second injury”
They were told…
“Your voice doesn’t sound female”,
“We don’t accept men”
“You are crazy or joking”
“Sorry, your partner is not a man” (you aren’t
married so we can’t help.)”
“We don’t understand your problem.”

13. LGBT Handbook for phone counselors
Many LGBT people who call
counselling are discouraged by
the counsellor’s heterosexual/
mono-gender bias.
Last year, we issued a handbook
any phone counsellor can use in
LGBT support to reduce
unmeaning hetero-bias, and
become more LGBT-friendly. 共生ネット監修・編集
2012 年発行
¥500
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14. Throwing out old myths
 MYTH: Humans are either male or female
=> Biologically: Not always true, Socially Not true
Not everyone is mono-gender; some are bi-or multigendered, others have no gender.
 MYTH: Men should be manly, women should be
womanly
=> Gender identity is fluid(at least for some). Does not
always have to match biological gender.
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15. Basis for X gender coding
• ICAO ～ International Civil Aviation
Organisation (under UN) with 191 member
countries set the gender verification code at
« M F X» in 194 ７ .
• All immigration offices of all member
countries can read three gender codes,
M/F/X, in all passports.
• Australia, New Zealand, among others issue
Ｘ gender passports to those who need it.
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16. Basis for accepting women in
same-sex relationships
In 2007, a Regional Court issued
a Protection order for a samesex couple (both legally female)
saying the relationship was no
different from a married couple.
- Their gender identity is
unknown. Don’t forget,
couples come in all genders
and sexualities
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17. The biggest Social Problem:
Practice of Gender and Sexuality-policing
Often violent myths and strict “social policing” on
Gender and Sexuality cause Social Exclusion
and Violence.
Gender-policing practices: “Men should be manly,
women should be womanly ！”
Sexuality-policing practices : “Mating is allowed as
long as it’s the opposite sex” (No matter what age,
how violent, even if without consent)
＝＞ These notions give license to bullying,
harassment and social exclusion.

18. What we found out:
LGBT people have nowhere to turn to in
times of trouble or personal crisis
=> High suicidal rate
60~70% of LGBTs considered suicide
as an option, compared to 20% in youth.
Accepting LGBTs is an urgent issue
about “health” not “morality”.

19. For a universal gender design
We need to amplify the
dichotomous gender framework
and
redesign the gender system
to make it more universal
〜 Design gives form and makes us
conscious of the unconscious. 〜

20. What shelters can do
Private women’s shelters are
already making efforts to
make shelters more universal
by learning about LGBT issues.

21. What shelters can do
Women’s Shelters are beginning to :
-Conduct staff training on LGBT issues
-Encourage LGBT-friendly staff to (come out and)
become trainers.
-Create a safe environment for users to talk about
sexuality without judgment.
-Set aside a room for X gender and other individual
needs (hypersensitivity, etc.)
- Put up a sign saying “This shelter is
LGBT-friendly”.

22. Basis of LGBT support
<LGBT issues are urgent health issues>
But issues on sexual orientation, gender
identity and gender expression are difficult to
bring up in casual conversation.
No one to consult ＝＞
“Just like leftovers long-forgotten in
the fridge”
＝＞ Too scary to open ！

23. Basics of LGBT support
No one to consult ＝＞ “ Just like leftovers
long-forgotten in the fridge”
＝＞ Too scary to open ！
You can offer support and care by:
- Being there for disclosure with an open mind.
- Offer warmth and understanding.
- Create an LGBT-friendly environment around you
There is nothing special.
Same as with any sexual assault victim, and
anyone hurt in daily life.

24. Basics of LGBT support
No one speaks out on LGBT needs
⇒A forgotten & neglected population
You can offer social support by:
- Sticking in LGBT’s social needs in your petitions for
the betterment of women.
- Set aside a small budget for LGBT support training
so you can collaborate with local LGBT froups.
- Create an LGBT-friendly environment at your
workplace and home.
This is nothing special. A good way to treat
anyone forgotten in daily life.

25. Thank you very much
謝謝 !