OCCUR (特定非営利活動法人アカー, lit. 'Designated Non-Profit Organization "OCCUR"') is a Japanese LGBT rights organization, founded in 1986. The organization is also involved in raising awareness of and providing medical treatment for HIV/AIDS.[2]
特定非営利活動法人アカー | |
アカー | |
 | |
| Formation | 3 March 1986[1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose | LGBT rights, HIV/AIDS activism |
| Headquarters | Nakano, Tokyo |
Region served | Japan |
Representative of board of directors | Hiroshi Niimi |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | 動くゲイとレズビアンの会 (Japan Association for the Lesbian & Gay Movement) |
History
editOCCUR was founded in 1986 as a split of ILGA Japan, founded by several young members dissastisfied with the group's leadership.[3] The group became known for taking more proactive media and legal roles than prior organizations in Japan.[4]
In February 1990, members of OCCUR stayed overnight at Fuchu Youth House for a study session. After members introduced themselves as members of a gay organization, they faced harassment from both other guests and the director of the facility, and were subsequently barred from using the facility by the director. In 1991, OCCUR filed a lawsuit against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government over discriminatory treatment, and the legal battle subsequently became a major focus for the group. Following two separate trials, OCCUR won the case against the government on 16 September 1997.[5][6] The judgement has since been regarded as a major legal turning point on the issue of discrimination against sexual minorities in Japan.[7]
On 2 December 1999, OCCUR was officially registered as a non-profit organization.[1]
In 2018, the group's official name was changed from "Japan Association for the Lesbian & Gay Movement" to "OCCUR", which had already been in use since the organization was formed.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b "団体概要". NPO 法人アカー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "アカーとは". NPO 法人アカー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Suganuma, Katsuhiko (November 2006). "Enduring Voices: Fushimi Noriaki and Kakefuda Hiroko's Continuing Relevance to Japanese Lesbian and Gay Studies and Activism". Intersections: Gender, History and Culture in the Asian Context (14).
- ^ McLelland, Mark (2011). "Japan's Queer Cultures". University of Wollongong. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Fujitani, Yuta (2008). "トラブルを起こす／トラブルになる ―1990年「府中青年の家同性愛者差別事件」と1991年から1997年の「府中青年の家裁判」を事例として―" (PDF) (in Japanese).
- ^ "Current Situation and Challenges of Building a Japanese LGBTQ Ephemera Collection at Yale". Journal of East Asian Libraries. 2017 (165). October 2017.
- ^ Kaku, Sechiyama (2015-05-28). "Rainbow in the East: LGBT Rights in Japan". Nippon.com.
- ^ "特定非営利活動法人アカーの情報". National Tax Agency Corporate Number Publication Site (in Japanese).