Request for removal: Information on a kindergartener with gender dysphoria was posted without consent on the Ōtsu city website

Article by: Kengo Suga

Ōtsu Municipal Office, photo taken by Hiroaki Hama

　A kindergartener who goes to a public nursery school in Ōtsu city had a story about their gender dysphoria posted without consent on the city website. Their parents have taken the case to the district court in order to have their child's information removed. The city deleted the post on January 18 at the request of the kindergartener and their family. The kindergarten is looking into measures to protect private information from third parties and prevent recurrence of outing incidents.

　The parents filed a case on December 25, 2020. The complaint entails their child's name was registered as male in the family registry, but her gender identity was female. The nursery school evaluation report in 2019 had recorded the kindergartener's details on receiving a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. This information was posted on the nursery school website managed by the city. Even though her name was concealed, her age and enrollment year was published. This made it possible to pinpoint who she was and having her gender dysphoria posted in public is a violation of privacy.

　Ōtsu city officials said, "We haven't received the complaint yet, so we are refraining from commenting. However, we are taking this matter and their guardians' feelings seriously. We want to respond accordingly." Attorney Tatsuya Ishida, representing the kindergartener, said, "I wish the government could look from the perspective of sexual and gender minorities, and handle the situation accordingly." The family is considering withdrawing the complaint on removing the post on the website.

　Regarding outing incidents, there was also an outing incident in Hitotsubashi University 15 years ago where a classmate outed another student as gay, and he jumped to his death. The bereaved filed a case against the university for compensation. During the appeal trial in November 2020, the Tokyo High Court ruled that it was a "considerable violation of personal rights."

　The mentioned kindergartener has been called a liar by her classmates regarding her gender identity. She has been assaulted and cannot continue going to school. Her family commented, "Having her live her life like before has become more difficult. She's already considering dying. Outing someone could cost their lives." Her mother said this in an interview: "LGBTQ+ children live in suffering. I wish adults could change their way of thinking and that starts with teaching children to be against discrimination and prejudice."

Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20210120/k00/00m/040/074000c