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“You are not alone” Help us save a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth in Tokyo!
We are launching this crowdfunding so that we can continue providing safe spaces and counseling support for LGBTQ+ children and youth of diverse backgrounds aged 24 and under and let them know they are not alone!
We want LGBTQ+ youth to know that they are not alone
There are many LGBTQ+ children and youth who don’t feel safe to talk openly about themselves either at school or at home and many end up isolated and struggling.
In fact, a research shows that more than half of LGBTQ+ teenagers have had thoughts of suicide in the past year. We also know that the risk goes down significantly when they know there is a safe place where they can access support.
Since 2021, with team members from Pride House Tokyo and others, we established the “Youth Unit” to provide safe space and counseling support for LGBTQ+ children and youth, so that they know that they are not alone.
However, our project comes to an end at the end of March 2025, as Pride House Tokyo undergoes its renewal.
Despite this, we want to keep our safe space and the counselling services going.
That is why we are launching this fundraiser to continue providing a space where LGBTQ+ youth of diverse backgrounds aged 24 or under can feel that they are not alone.
What does safe space mean for youth?
There are members of the Youth Unit who used to frequent our space in the past as program participants.
Here we will share stories by three members.
Why do we need safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, especially now?
“I had no one safe to talk to” ”Neither school or home was a safe space”
We still hear these words from children and youth.
Still to this day, LGBTQ+ children and youth live in serious isolation.
![[Figure 1] The Reality of Mental Health Among LGBTQ+ Teens in the last year, LGBTQ+ teens eperienced Self-harm 42 .2 % Suicide attempt 19 .6 % Compared to a nationwide survey of teenagers… x3.3 Suicidal thoughs 53 .9 % Compared to a nationwide survey of teenagers… x3.6 *1…認定NPO法人ReBit「LGBTQ子ども・若者調査2025」 *2…日本財団『日本財団第 4 回自殺意識調査（2021）』 x x](https://static.camp-fire.jp/uploads/editor_uploaded_image/image/5218447/645a3ccca963742feb08098b5aa710e7.png)
Among LGBTQ+ teenagers who participated in a research, 42.2% have experienced self-harm, 19.6% have attempted suicide, and 53.9% have had thoughts of suicide in the last year.
These numbers are extremely high, considering they are 3 times more than those of teenagers across Japan.
With that in mind, we also know the following.
Each of the numbers goes down significantly, when the youth can access someone or somewhere they can talk to or go while feeling safe.
This means safe spaces and counselling services can save lives.
However, the research shows that there are more than 50% who feel they don’t have access to a safe person to talk to or a safe place to go to.
Also the research shows, there is a great percentage of people who feel a lack of safe space or someone safe to talk to at school or at home.
Nowhere else to go. No one else to talk to. The fear of not being accepted.
With such anxiety, there are LGBTQ+ youth who carry all these worries alone.
Our activities so far
Our space is run by youth staff aged 19 to 24. We have been putting on events by listening to the voices and needs of our participants.
Our main strength is that we are a space “for LGBTQ+ youth, by LGBTQ+ youth.” Youth staff themselves run the space along with support from adult staff.
In our space, children and youth can spend time however they want.
Eat some food, chat with staff or other users, do some homework from school, or just spend some chill time…
Recently we started our Youth Community Box. It works as a place where youth can bring or take clothes or items that are gently used.
For children and youth who may not be able to join our space in person, we have been hosting online events, sharing information on social media, and visiting large LGBTQ+ events across Japan so that we can provide space in that specific area.
We have received the following messages from our users about our space.
Messages from users on “safe space for youth”
In December 2025, we launched Parents Meet-Ups for the parents of LGBTQ+ children and youth.
We have received the following message from the participant of Parents Meet-Ups.
They further explain why Parents Meet-Ups are significant and important.
Through the counseling and wellness support program the Wraparound Support, counselors with expatriates and experiences in LGBTQ+ issues, including Japan’s Certified Public Psychologists, have provided individualized support.
The Wraparound Support services are provided no only in-person, but also remotely, wherever the LGBTQ+ young people are, covering a wide range of topics whether those are directly related to gender and sexuality or not.
We have received the following messages from those who have utilized the Wraparound Support.
”About the Wraparound Support” from the service participants:
We have been putting efforts into DE&I（Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) initiatives in our safe space and counselling services.
In order for LGBTQ+ children and youth with diverse needs to be able to join the space together while feeling safe, we have, for instance, noise reduction ear muffs, writing boards for communication on-site.
Additionally, we have been intentional to include marginalized identities within the LGBTQ+ community into our event planning.
We strive to build a community space where the cultures and values of each community member who gathers at our space are cherished.
For instance, we hosted an event in celebration of Lunar New Year including Chinese New Year and Seollal featuring sanjeok (a special dish for Korean New Year), and tangyuan (sweets associated with Chinese New Year).
We also hosted an event where we all learned about Ramadan and celebrated the existence of queer muslims. We welcomed a queer muslim guest to give an online talk and ate Kolak (an Indonesian traditional dessert associated with Ramadan).
The staff members at Youth Unit are paid staff. Therefore, our program serves as a rare workplace where LGBTQ+ youth can work without worrying about harassment related to SOGIESC. It provides a safe space to take on something new and grow for the youth staff as well.
Why fundraise?
In 2021, we launched the “Youth Unit,” composed primarily of team members who had been involved with Pride House Tokyo in various capacities. Through this Youth Unit, we have been creating safe spaces and providing counseling support for LGBTQ+ children and youth, at Pride House Tokyo’s LGBTQ+ Center. However, due to the renewal of the Center, these activities will come to an end in March 2026.
But we won’t let the important work end here.
With this in mind, Anri Ono and Akané Kosaka, co-founders of a non-profit called Proud Futures, have decided to continue operating the Youth Unit and counseling support services.
The two have been involved since its inception in creating safe spaces and providing counseling support for LGBTQ+ children and youth at Pride House Tokyo.
This decision was made with support from existing youth members with a hope that they can continue the work of building community and also to use the experience and knowledge gained over these years.
That is why we are launching this crowdfunding campaign.
Messages of Support
Here, we’d like to share messages of support from people who we have connected over the years, including those who have appeared as guests at our events and guests at our crowdfunding event.
We’ve also received messages from many other people, and we’ll be sharing those in our activity reports here and on our social media, so please be sure to check them out.
Messages from Organizers and Members
Messages from Youth Staff
Messages from Co-chairs of Proud Futures
Messages from the Participants of Our Safe Space
Words of Support from the Program Participants
Other messages we have received are uploaded here. Please be sure to check them out.
Lastly
A place where youth can gather while feeling safe.
A place where youth can find community.
A place where youth can feel safe to talk.
This safe space, which nurtures a sense of belonging and connectedness, is irreplaceable for many children and youth. We cannot lose this space.
However passion alone isn’t enough to keep it going.
The funds raised through this crowdfunding campaign are essential to keep this safe space and counseling support services running.
Without your support, we will not be able to continue.
Please join us in supporting the future of LGBTQ+ youth.
About Us
Proud Futures, NPO
Proud Futures aims to create a future society where LGBTQ+ children and youth can feel safe, be confident, and live freely.
Proud Futures was founded in 2020, with the experience and knowledge gained by the co-founders in Boston and Fukuoka respectively, supporting LGBTQ+ children and youth. Through provision of resources for adults who support LGBTQ+ children and youth, the organization has been working to build a better present and future for LGBTQ+ children and youth.
The areas of expertise include creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ children and youth, mental health, advocacy, and LGBTQ+ inclusive education.
Website： https://www.proudfutures.org/
Instagram： https://www.instagram.com/proudfutures/
Facebook： https://www.facebook.com/proudfutures/
Crowdfunding Events
In the near future, we plan to host various events on the current situations that LGBTQ+ children and youth are in, and to spread the word to allies.
Your Support
With a standard crowdfunding setting on this platform, a 17% fee is deducted from the total amount raised, so the organizer does not receive 100% of the funds. However, with “CAMPFIRE for Social Good,” which we are using for this campaign, donors pay a 12% service fee (excluding tax) on the total amount raised, allowing us the organizer to receive 100% of the funds.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Please click the link here for more details.
*All images used on this page have been posted with the consent of the individuals pictured.
