LGBT groups and educators on Saturday highlighted the need to allow sexual minority students in Japanese middle schools and high schools to freely choose uniforms that they feel comfortable wearing.

Nearly all schools in Japan require students to wear uniforms that are strictly dictated by binary notions of gender -- black jackets with militaristic stand-up collars or blazers with pants and neckties for boys, and sailor suits, pleated skirts and ribbons for girls.

The lack of choice creates an uncomfortable and possibly traumatic situation for students who have female physical traits but identify as male, or vice versa.

Anri Ishizaki, head of Fukuoka Rainbow Educational Networks, told a symposium held in the city in southwestern Japan to discuss the issue that the group received precisely those kinds of concerns from students.

"School uniforms could consist of blazers (for all students), with a choice between pants and skirts, ribbons and neckties," proposed the 33-year-old, who was born with female characteristics but does not clearly identify as male or female.

Fukuoka Girls' Commercial High School from this school year beginning in April started letting students choose between skirts and pants regardless of gender identity. "We're careful that (the uniform) doesn't force our students to come out at school," the school's principal, Haruo Shibata, explained at the symposium. Read more via Japan Today