Nearly 40% of sexual minorities in Japan have been sexually harassed or assaulted, according to a private survey involving more than 10,000 respondents.

The survey of LGBT people, released Saturday, was conducted by Yasuharu Hidaka, a professor of social epidemiology at Takarazuka University.

Hidaka said many more cases likely go unreported, noting that LGBT people have sometimes been refused help by police or counseling centers. He also said there is a lack of proper support and understanding in the country for issues facing the LGBT community.