Kyoto Family Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by a married person for gender change in the family register.
Not being married is one of the five requirements for changing gender under the gender dysphoria special law.
The psychological hurdle of disclosing one’s sexual orientation and gender identity, a concept known by the acronym SOGI, is significant for many in the country’s LGBTQ+ community, and some are reluctant to see a doctor due to insensitive remarks they have received from health care professionals.
The Fukuoka High Court on Friday became the third high court in Japan to rule the country’s lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, but upheld a lower court ruling to dismiss plaintiffs’ claim for damages. In the ruling, the court judged for the first time that civil law provisions not allowing same-sex marriage violated Article 13 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to the pursuit of happiness. The court also said the ban violates sections of the Constitution that guarantee equality under the law and upholds individual dignity and the essential equality of both sexes. “There is no longer any reason to not legally recognize marriage between same-sex couples,” Presiding Judge Takeshi Okada said.
Japan’s industry ministry has enabled a transgender employee to use all women’s restrooms in the ministry building, it was learned Tuesday. The employee, who is registered as male under the family registry system but lives as a woman due to gender dysphoria, had been allowed to use women’s restrooms at least two floors away from the one where she worked. The National Personnel Authority initially approved the restroom use restriction.
A Japanese publisher has received threats over its plan to publish a translated version of a controversial U.S. book questioning an increase in young women seeking gender transitions, its parent company said Saturday.
Sankei Shimbun Publications Inc. received an email threatening arson against bookstores that carried the book unless its publication was canceled, noting the work could promote discrimination against transgender people.
Japanese labor authorities have ruled that a man developed mental illness because his sexual orientation was revealed by his boss without consent, recognizing it as a work-related condition eligible for workers’ compensation insurance benefits.
The results of the prefectural government’s Internet survey revealed that 35.3% of Chiba residents answered that they “felt” human rights violations against the disabled, and more than one out of three people believe that there are human rights violations. 17.3% answered that they “felt” human rights violations against LGBT and other sexual minorities.
In a questioning session, Tenbata pointed out that “I feel that the basis of the statement that people’s value is evaluated based on their productivity is the same as that of Satoshi Uematsu, a death-row prisoner who caused the ‘Yamayurien Incident’ (in which residents of a facility for the disabled were killed and wounded)”. Sugita said she was “very disappointed that some people have the opinion that I am the same as death row prisoner Uematsu” and added: “I will do my best to realize a society that is close to people with disabilities and enables them to live well. We are still not making enough effort”.
On June 30th, LGBT and other sexual minorities were discriminated against, such as “homosexuality is an acquired mental disorder or addiction” at a parliamentary meeting of members of the LDP. It was found out by interviewing the people concerned. Support groups for sexual minorities expressed resentment, saying, “It’s a hate speech and it’s not allowed.”
The new employment support center targets sexual minorities with mental or developmental disorders, who often fall between the cracks under the current welfare system.
Barrier Free Japan