A recent survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the Kanto area found that 70 percent were bullied during their school years.
The survey, conducted by a support group for LGBT people aged 10 to 35, also found that 30 percent considered suicide because of the discrimination they have felt. The survey reveals once again that much more work remains to be done to stop school bullying.
The survey was confined to the Tokyo area, seemingly the most cosmopolitan city in Japan. At least inside school, very little tolerance is being shown to sexual minorities during their formative years. The survey revealed that 53 percent suffered verbal abuse, 49 percent were ignored or excluded from groups, 20 percent suffered physical violence and 11 percent endured sexual abuse.