Photo/Illutration Satoko Nagamura, right, and Mamiko Moda (Provided by Satoko Nagamura)

To spread awareness in society, the Japanese Association of Sociology for Human Liberation announced on Sept. 15 that over a third of the respondents in a survey of sexual minorities in Japan have experience raising children.

The organization, which conducted the survey, hopes more people in society know the current situation to achieve a society where sexual minority couples and their children can live without discrimination. 

The general incorporated association kodomap, which supports sexual minorities, conducted the online survey from April through June this year. It received responses from 710 sexual minorities (90 percent of whom were assigned female gender at birth) on their parenting experiences.

The survey showed that 242 of the 710 respondents have experienced or are raising a child or children.

A previous survey conducted in 2021 showed that 141 sexual minorities had experienced or were experiencing parenting, although the result is not comparable because the subjects of that survey were different.

Among those who answered that they have experience in nurturing, 64.8 percent said the number of children is “one,” and 30.6 percent said “two.”

In addition, 122 of 710 respondents said that the respondents themselves or their partners had given birth in the last three years after using third-party sperm donors to become pregnant.

A research team headed by Akitomo Shingae, a professor at Osaka Metropolitan University, analyzed the data.

Shingae believes that increased accessibility of information has contributed to the rise in sperm donations.

“Around 2010, online communities started to be formed by sexual minorities who wish to have children,” he said.

Most of the respondents who answered that they have experience in raising children said they have “concerns or problems,” including “a lack of legal framework,” “social prejudice and ignorance” and “bullying of their children.”

“Problems are emerging but are not being addressed. We need to assess the actual situation by using a national census or other means,” Shingae said. 

ESTABLISHING PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENTS

Satoko Nagamura, 41, the chairperson of kodomap, has continued conducting surveys to strive for a future where sexual minorities can raise children without concerns.

She herself delivered a child, who is now 2, using donated sperm, and is raising the child with her partner, Mamiko Moda, 44.

When Nagamura entered her child into a pre-school, she told the principal “two mothers are raising this child.”

The principal said, “We welcome your child. Our staff members were just talking about the possibility of a family like yours coming here in the near future.”

Nagamura felt her effort for showing data about sexual minority families had paid off.

However, there still is a long road ahead. Nagamura worries about how her family will be perceived by other parents at the pre-school and other issues.

“Our child loves Mamiko," Nagamura said. "So, I don’t want to make this child think that Mamiko has to hide herself outside of our home. We want to establish a peaceful environment where the hearts of children of sexual minority couples are protected.”

Related News