Date: Thu, 27 Oct 1994 12:51:30 -0400 From: David B. O'Donnell International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission Emergency Response Network NEW Homosexuality defined as "sexual deviance" in Japan The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology continues to classify homosexuality in an ambiguous and derogatory manner, despite decisions by both the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization that homosexuality is neither a form of "sexual abnormality" nor an inferior choice of sexual orientation. Action is needed to urge the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology to define homosexuality in more unbiased terms. One often used Japanese textbook on psychiatric education defines homosexuality as "the tendency to seek partners of the same sex...also called 'sexual diversion': to perform the opposite role of one's sex." Japanese psychiatrists have made no efforts to give any proper care to lesbians and gays. Instead, psychiatrists have tried in vain to "cure" gays of their homosexuality, drawing on older psychiatric theories. In March, 1993 the Tokyo based Association for the Lesbian and Gay Movement (OCCUR) demanded that the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology express its official view on homosexuality. The latter organization promised in May of the same year to first discuss the topic and then present a response. However, the committee concerned with the concepts of disease and terminology, which is in charge of the issue, has not yet even started to discuss the issue after one year. The issues at hand are especially relevant in light of the recent court case between OCCUR and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. On March 30, following a lengthy legal battle, a Tokyo District Court ordered the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to pay monetary damages to members of OCCUR, who had been harassed and given threats of expulsion from a city-owned youth center on the basis of their sexual orientation. This case marks the first time a Japanese Court has recognized homosexuality as a legitimate sexual orientation. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to appeal the decision to the Tokyo High Court, and may use the argument that homosexuals are psychologically ill. The continuing pathologization of homosexuality by the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology thus stands to figure as a crucial hurdle to OCCUR's court case. A sample letter follows: Dear________: According to reliable sources from Japan, homosexuality is still classified in the psychiatric professions as well as in most textbooks of medical education as a form of "sexual deviance" or "sexual abnormality." This suggests that the psychiatric profession in Japan is clearly not taking into account the recent international trend to afford lesbians and gay men full social integration. The American Psychiatric Association decided in 1973 not to classify homosexuality as a form of "sexual abnormality." The World Health Organization expressed their view that homosexual orientation is not inferior to heterosexual orientation in their ICD-10 published in 1993. Therefore, we request that the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology, the largest psychiatric association in Japan, express the opinion that homosexuality should not be classified as a form of abnormality or deviance, and that homosexuality is not inferior to heterosexuality. Sincerely, Write to: The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology, The Board of Directors Kokusai Kouryu Linkai The Committee of International Exchange Shikkan Gainen to Yougo ni Kansuru Linkai The Committee of the Concepts of Diseases and terminology Hongo Sky Building, 3-38-11 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 164 Japan Phone: +81-3-3814-2991 Fax: +81-3-3814-2992 IGLHRC For more information contact us at tel. (415) 255-8660 fax (415) 255-8662 e-mail: iglhrc@igc.apc.org