Japan and gays

[Lord T Hawkeye]

When religion gets bashed for it's very intolerant and unfair view on homosexuality, some point to Japan.  They say "Japan is mostly atheist and yet they mistreat gays too!"

Anyone able to shed some light on this?

[MrBogosity]

Atheism is not widespread in Japan. Most Japanese are Shintoists. More gods != atheism.

I have no idea about their attitudes toward or treatment of gays.

[AHPMB]

To be honest, I'm not quite clear where this sentiment is coming from.  Japanese culture is remarkably open to homosexuality.  Only once did Japan enact laws outlawing homosexuality.  It lasted less than a decade, and was part of an effort to seem more "Westernized."  The Japanese don't share the modern Western notion of a homosexual/heterosexual dichotomy, where you're either one or the other and never shall the two meet.  Their view of homosexuality is tied to the act itself, and how it is performed.  It's perfectly possible to engage in homosexual activity in Japan and not be considered gay depending on your position in the sex act, your social standing and the age of the people involved.  Now if you're talking about gay marriage, to be honest I have no idea how Shinto and Buddhism treats the concept (although I do know that homosexual activity was integral to Buddhist monastic life in Japan for quite some time.)  While same-sex marriage has yet to be recognized by the Japanese government, they do recognize gay couples from other countries as of May 2009.  Japanese courts have consistently ruled against discrimination against gays and lesbians.  The rate of violence against gays in Japan is staggeringly low when compared to the United States or Great Britain.