LGBTQ people in Japan worry getting coronavirus may result in outing
Many members of sexual minorities in Japan worry that catching the novel coronavirus could mean their sexual orientation is revealed against their will as authorities probe infection routes, a supporters' group has found.
A survey by Marriage for All Japan also showed they worry about whether they or their partner will be able to receive important medical information that hospitals provide to family members if one of them becomes infected with the pneumonia-causing virus.
About 180 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people among others had responded to the survey by Friday.
A 34-year-old man who lives with his same-sex partner in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, has chosen not to be open about his sexual orientation at his office. But he worries it may be revealed if he becomes infected with the virus as he would have to tell a public health centre about his partner when asked about people he has had close contact with, jJapanToday.com reports.