Gay Male Idol Reveals How His Members Reacted To Him Coming Out
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Shinjiro Atae made headlines when he came out at his own fan meeting last July. In front of 2,000 fans at the Line Cube Shibuya Theater in Tokyo, he announced something deeply personal to him.
I am a gay man.
— Shinjiro Atae
His fans reacted with overwhelming support, immediately sending him a wave of applause.
Shinjiro Atae at his recent fan meet | @shinjiroatae1126/Instagram Shinjiro is a respected soloist and member of the senior idol group AAA which debuted in 2005. Since speaking his truth about his sexuality, he’s been more vocal than ever about the struggles he faced on his road to self-acceptance.
It has taken me a long time to be able to say I am gay. I could not even say it to myself. I feared that even if I could accept the truth, the world would never accept me as an artist.
— Shinjiro Atae
| @shinjiroatae1126/Instagram In a new interview with Teen Vogue, he revealed how his loved ones reacted to him coming out. It was something that he approached delicately and personally over the past few years.
I’ve been coming out for many years; two-and-a-half years ago to my mom, and five years ago to one of my best friends, which was my first time coming out in the Japanese language. It was easier for me to come out in English, because it’s not my first language. When I speak English, I have to act a little differently. It’s not 100 percent me. But when I talk in Japanese, I don’t even have to think about it, it just comes out naturally.
— Shinjiro Atae
Shinjiro and his mother | @shinjiroatae1126/Instagram His members also stood by him without fail. Besides Shinjiro, AAA currently consists of Misako Uno, Takahiro Nishijima, Mitsuhiro Hidaka, and Shuta Sueyoshi.
I called some of the AAA members; they’re very supportive.
— Shinjiro Atae
| @shinjiroatae1126/Instagram The Japanese singer added that he’s taking “baby steps” when it comes to his mental and emotional health, trying to relax with the help of meditation and a strong support system.
Baby steps. I spent 34 years of my life in the closet, and I’m still letting that tension go. Yoga helps. Meditate and manifest, you know? I called some of the AAA members; they’re very supportive. And my mom just flew out to me here in L.A. for my mental health. This is all new to me, I’m not used to it; I don’t feel ‘out’ out. I might have come out, but I haven’t arrived yet.
— Shinjiro Atae
Shinjiro and his mother | @shinjiroatae1126/Instagram Read more about his journey below.
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