LGBT groups in Japan are alarmed at the rapid increase in of ‘outings’, which refers to publicly revealing a person’s sexuality and/or gender identity against their will. Since 2012, the Shakaiteki Hosetsu Support Center has been receiving an increasing number of calls to its helpline about outings. The Center has recorded receiving 110 calls in that time about the issue, but only categorised calls based on outings in three of those years since 2012. In addition, many calls went unanswered, so the center believes that number could be 24 times higher.

LGBT groups have said the increase in outings has forced people to quit their jobs or education, and that many have experienced mental health issues. The parents of a 25-year-old graduate student, who died by suicide after a classmate outed him, have sued that classmate and the university. They claimed the university failed to deal with their son’s needs appropriately.

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