Japanese Pop Star Shijiro Atae Receives Overwhelming Support After Coming Out as Gay

Japanese pop star Shinjiro Atae, a former member of the J-pop group AAA, has come out as gay during a fan event in Tokyo. This announcement is significant in a country where same-sex unions are not recognized by the government. Atae's disclosure was warmly welcomed by his fans, and he received positive support on social media. Despite recent legislation on sexual orientation and gender identity, the LGBTQ community in Japan still faces challenges, and advocates are calling for comprehensive nondiscrimination laws to protect their rights.