Japanese pop star Shinjiro Atae gay announcement: All you may want to know
Tokyo, Japanese pop star Shinjiro Atae bravely disclosed his identity as a gay man. This revelation, warmly embraced by his fans, holds significance in a country where LGBTQ equality lacks legal recognition. At the event in Tokyo, Shinjiro Atae told fans on Wednesday, “What I’m going to tell you now may not be something you expect or hope to hear. Perhaps some of you may need time to understand. For years, I struggled to accept a part of myself… But now after all I have been through, I finally have the courage to open up to you about something.” «I am a gay man,» Atae revealed, and as he choked up, the audience responded with overwhelming support, encouraging him to “hang in there!”. The applause and cheers from his fans reaffirmed the acceptance and love they held for their idol.
Shinjiro Atae, a J-pop idol who came out publicly as gay during a fan event, with his stylist and makeup artist in the afternoon prior to his revelation in Tokyo, July 25, 2023. Such an announcement is extremely unusual in conservative Japan, the only G7 country that has not legalized same-sex unions. (Noriko Hayashi/The New York Times)For fifteen years, Shinjiro Atae was a prominent member of the immensely popular group AAA until its hiatus in 2020. Recently, he has been residing in Los Angeles, pursuing a solo career in the United States. On Instagram, Atae shared that coming to terms with his sexuality was a lengthy process, filled with fears of potential social rejection and the possibility of jeopardizing his career. Despite these challenges, he overcame his reservations and chose to be true to himself and his fans. «It is better, both for me and for the people I care about, including my fans, to accept who I truly am and tell you so. I
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