Comment on this story</tle><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg></button><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Comment</span><span class="wpds-c-fOvfhP wpds-c-fOvfhP-kshkDy-isCommentType-te none" aria-hidn="te"><span class="ment-unt font-xxxxs sc-ral-unt"><span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">SHOBARA, Japan — The grays of wter have lgered this ral town southwtern Japan, where tilled rice paddi look like barren plots of dirt and only the most attentive tre have started wakg up to sprg.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The dullns mak the one pop of lor even more strikg: The rabow flag that hangs outsi the home of Kei Okuda, a svelte 62-year-old wh a sleek grayg ponytail and a bold red lip.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Until transng to life as a woman four years ago, Okuda’s life was filled wh wav. At their crt, her nfn about her genr inty would be unbearable. The moments of lm at the trough — when the uncertati would subsi — staed her through a 31-year heterosexual marriage as a father of four.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The marriage broke down for reasons unrelated to her inty, she said. But a few months later, Okuda had a dream that she was a woman — and she woke up tears of joy, she said. It was an epiphany. When she enuntered the term “transgenr,” she realized was what she had been searchg for all along.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“When I started to wear drs and wear makp, rather than feelg like I was beg a woman, I felt like I … returned to who I really was,” Okuda said. “It felt right, and I fally felt safe my own sk.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Still, the transn was not easy, not her town of about 35,000 rints nor Hiroshima, the neart big cy. People mocked her and poted at her. She stggled wh thoughts of suici.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">Japan’s ary ignored her sexual asslt claims, so she went public</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Like many socially nservative Asian natns, Japan remas a hostile place for lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer people. Social taboos have kept many Japan’s LGBTQ muny largely visible, fearful to e out to their loved on or employers.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Japan’s rerd on LGBTQ issu has e unr ternatnal scty as prepar to host the Group of Seven summ Hiroshima for the lears of the world’s richt untri. In 2021, the Japane Diet was unable to pass a bill to protect LGBTQ people om discrimatn. It is now nsirg a watered-down versn that aims to “promote the unrstandg” of LGBTQ muni but clus no legal protectn.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Japan is the only G-7 untry not to regnize same-sex marriag, and Prime Mister Fum Kishida is facg lls for actn. Last month, ambassadors to Japan om the six other G-7 untri <a href=" target=_blank>wrote a jot letter to Kishida</a>, urgg him to enact legal protectns for LGBTQ muni. Taiwan is the only place Asia where such marriag are regnized.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But attus are slowly shiftg toward acceptance here.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">About 71 percent of Japane people support same-sex marriage, acrdg to a poll nducted late Febary by Sankei Shimbun, a right-leang Japane newspaper. The support is even more pronounced among the younger generatn, wh 91 percent of those ag 18-29 support.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The majory of Japane people do not believe the rights of LGBTQ muni are protected, acrdg to a Febary poll by the left-leang Maichi Shimbun.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">Japane official’s homophobic remarks highlight laggg LGBTQ rights</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Several prefectur, <a href=" target="_blank">cludg Tokyo</a>, have extend some benefs to same-sex upl. Last month, a Japane urt granted a long-term visa to an Amerin man who married a Japane man the Uned Stat.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Yet the natnal ernment — led by overwhelmgly olr, male and nservative el — has been slow to act, wh some policians actively hostile to gay people, llg them “unproductive” to childbirth. Only one out of the 713 members of the Japane legislature is openly gay. About 1 10 people Japan intify as a member of the LGBTQ muny, acrdg to a <a href=" target=_blank>2020 natnal survey</a>.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“There is a fe generatn gap when to LGBTQ rights,” said Gon Matsunaka, head of Pri Hoe Tokyo, a pro-LGBTQ nsortium of nonprofs, rporatns and supportive embassi. “When you look at policians Japan, the average age is people their 60s, and most people who are power the [erng party] are their 70s, so we n see why ’s difficult for change to happen.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Kishida has faced a rocky two months over the issue. In Febary, he fired an ai for makg homophobic remarks, but he also drew cricism for sayg he did not thk that a same-sex marriage ban nstuted “unjt discrimatn by the state.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div id="gift-share-le" data-ttid="gift-share-le" class="PJLV PJLV-ilotWTr-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-goNocI-placement-Inle foc-highlight"><div data-ttid="gift-share-terstial-trigger" class="wpds-c-kPqOkS wpds-c-kPqOkS-jtSXsT-hasSubsText-false"><span class="wpds-c-hBJqc"><span class="wpds-c-dzSncg">Share this article</span></span><span class="wpds-c-eCvK"><span class="wpds-c-enedHQ wpds-c-enedHQ-cCdK-isShown-false">Share</span><svg xmlns=" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp wpds-c-fDHGth"><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg></span></div></button></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“The Japane ernment will ntue to listen to a wi range of cizens’ voic and work diligently to realize a society where diversy is valued and all people n live vibrant liv while rpectg one another’s human rights and digny,” the Prime Mister’s Office said a statement.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Matsunaka said the time is ripe for actn. This is partly bee of the growg public support, but also bee of a key shift the polil landspe: tensifyg scty of an fluential nservative relig group, the Unifitn Church, after the assassatn of former prime mister Shzo Abe, when<a href=" target=_blank> ti between the group and the lg party were revealed</a>.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In the meantime, the LGBTQ muny remas a target of harassment onle and offle. In recent weeks, the trans muny has been the subject of onle attacks, which have put a spotlight on the legal and social difficulti they face transng.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">Trans Ameri" Most trans adults say transng ma them more satisfied wh their liv</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The number of people changg their registered genr intifitn has risen om 97 2004 to nearly 1,000 2019. But the procs is ntroversial bee Japane law requir <a href=" target="_blank" class="ntextual_lk">sex reassignment</a> surgery orr for people to change their genr on official rerds. (Japan’s top urt is reviewg the requirement.)</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Okuda, the transgenr woman Shobara, said there is a lack of support for sexual mori. The only reprentatns she saw mass media of LGBTQ people were edic ritur on televisn shows. She didn’t intify wh them or the mockery they subjected themselv to for entertament.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Knowg this, Okuda opened a lol safe space for anyone seekg support or who wants to learn about the LGBTQ muny. The space, Chosen Fay Shobara, is open every Friday. Some days, she has no visors, and other days, as many as 10 people vis om var parts of Japan.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“We [transgenr people] don’t harm others, and we jt want to exist and live out our liv,” Okuda said. “I want people to know that we are not monsters, but jt real human begs.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Others are siarly workg to create supportive spac for members of the muny and raise awarens.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">One such effort is Nijiiro Kazoku (“Rabow Fay”), which foc on supportg LGBTQ fai that are tryg to navigate legal rtrictns and social stigma. The fay registry system Japan is stctured such that only one parent a same-sex relatnship n be registered fay rerds, leavg the other parent wh no legal rights to the child.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In Febary, the group anized an effort to get children of LGBTQ upl to wre letters to Kishida, urgg him to legalize same-sex marriage. Taiga Ishikawa, the only openly gay lawmaker Japan and an opposn party member, read the letters to Kishida at a legislative ssn.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I have 2 moms. They are partners who want to get married but they n’t bee of the le Japan. Can you please change the le Japan, and make same-sex marriage possible?” a first-grar Osaka wrote one of the letters. “I would be really happy if you would. The mom who didn’t give birth to me is also my mom. Please let her be the fay.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">A third-grar om Kumamoto wrote: “To Prime Mister Kishida: My hoe has two moms but I am happy, and our t and dog are always sleepg happily and eatg lots of food.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Ha Ono, -lear of the group, said she hop such ttimoni will show the public and lawmakers that LGBTQ people exist Japan — and serve equal rights.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“We have often been nsired as the imagary begs,” Ono said. “They talk about as if [LGBTQ] is a new ncept that is gog to exist the future, but we already exist, and there are real kids and fai right now.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="wpds-c-dhzjXW wpds-c-dhzjXW-iPJLV-css mt-md grid-center grid-body"><div id="gift-share-end" data-ttid="gift-share-end" class="PJLV PJLV-idiqKOk-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-iIVoLq-placement-Shortcut foc-highlight"><div class="wpds-c-UazGY" id="gift-share-shortcut" data-ttid="gift-share-shortcut"><svg xmlns=" fill="var(--wpds-lors-primary)" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fVfumU "><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg><div class="PJLV wpds-c-kwcHlj">Share</div></div></button></div><div class="wpds-c-hcekgi"><div class="mb-lg-mod" data-qa="ments-btn-div"><button aria-label="Scroll to the ments sectn" data-qa="ments-btn" class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-nsy-flt wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-igqYgPb-css ments hi-for-prt"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp "><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg><span></span> Comments</button></div></div></div><div class="grid-center grid-body"><div></div></div></article><div class="centered-layout grid-layout"><div class="grid-center grid-mobile-full-bleed"><div class="hi-for-prt ml-to mr-to mt-md pt-lg recirc" data-qa="recirc"><div class="flex-l jtify-center hi-for-prt"><div class="pr-sm ml-sm ml-0-ns b-l br-l bc-gray-darkt more-om-post"><div></div><div class="dn db-l pb-md pt-md"><div data-qa="newsletter" class="hi-for-prt relative"><div class="dib w-100"><div><div class="flex jtify-center align self-center center transn-all duratn-400 ease--out" data-qa="sc-newsletter-signup" aria-label=""><svg aria-labelledby="react-aria-1-aria" role="img" viewBox="0 0 100 80"><tle id="react-aria-1-aria">Loadg...

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ATRALIAN OUTLOOK HOME ATRALIAN OUTLOOK LGBTQ RIGHTS JAPANIN THIS SECTN GO BACK TO ATRALIAN OUTLOOKABOUTLGBTQ RIGHTS JAPAN01 JUL 2021BY ALEARDO ZANGHELLIANALYSIS SHAREFACEBOOKTWTERLKEDJAPAN LACKS PREHENSIVE LEGAL PROTECTNS AGAST DISCRIMATN ON THE GROUNDS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATN AND GENR INTY, AS WELL AS SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP REGNN LAWS. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROMISG RECENT LEGAL VELOPMENTS, BUT STRATEGI FOR REFORM MIGHT BE EFULLY RENSIRED.PRI HAS E TO RONATE WH (METROPOLAN) QUEERS AROUND THE WORLD. NOT UNLIKE A NOVEL PRODUCTN OF A WELL-KNOWN PLAY, HOWEVER, PRI IS PERFORMED A LTLE DIFFERENTLY WH EACH NEW GEOGRAPHIL ERATN. AS PRI IS TAKEN UP OUTSI THE ANGLO-AMERIN WT, S AFFIRMATIVE RE IS MATAED, BUT THE NNOTATNS OF THE MSAGE AND THE MO OF S LIVERY CHANGE A WAY THAT SUS LOL NDNS AND SENSIBILI.TAKE PRI PARAS JAPAN. TO AN OBSERVER ED TO SYDNEY’S MARDI GRAS, TOKYO RABOW PRI MIGHT LOOK LIKE A TAME AFFAIR. BUT WOULD BE NGO FOR TO LOOK ANY DIFFERENT OM WHAT DO – NOR, OF URSE, IS THERE ANY GOOD REASON WHY SHOULD. IT IS A VIRTUAL CLICHé OF TERCULTURAL MUNITN THEORY THAT JAPANE TERLOCUTORS REIL OM OPEN NONTATN, AND MAY OFTEN SPEAK BY DIRECTN. A LS -YOUR-FACE PUBLIC CELEBRATN OF QUEERNS MAK PERFECT SENSE JAPAN.THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT JAPANE QUEERS DON’T HAVE GROUNDS FOR PLAT. JAPAN LACKS THE VILENT HOMOPHOBIA TYPIL OF MANY CULTUR STEEPED THE JUDAEO-CHRISTIAN TRADN, BUT JAPANE SOCIETY REMAS NSIRABLY HETERONORMATIVE. ALTHOUGH SAME-SEX SEXUAL ACTIVY IS LEGAL JAPAN, MEDIA STEREOTYP NTUE,  AND G OUT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT. ADDNALLY, THERE ARE NO SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP REGNN LAWS: A MORY BILL TO LEGALISE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WAS SUBMTED JUNE 2019, BUT REMAS TO BE LIBERATED THE DIET. MEANWHILE, THE MEANS BY WHICH SOME JAPANE SAME-SEX UPL MAY TRY TO LEGALLY SECURE THEIR STAT WERE NOT SIGNED HAVG GAY RELATNSHIPS MD, AND ARE NOT QUE F FOR PURPOSE.JAPAN ALSO LACKS UNTRY-WI PREHENSIVE PROTECTN AGAST DISCRIMATN OF LGBTQ PEOPLE. THIS LACK OF LEGAL PROTECTNS HAS NCRETE NSEQUENC. ACRDG TO AMNTY INTERNATNAL, DISCRIMATN EMPLOYMENT IS MON. DISCRIMATN AGAST SAME-SEX UPL WISHG TO RENT OR TAKE UP MORTGAG IS ALSO A PROBLEM, G UNNECSARY HARDSHIP FOR SAME-SEX UPL WISHG TO BUILD A LIFE TOGETHER.ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN TRYG TO PALISE ON THE MOMENTUM GENERATED BY THE TOKYO OLYMPICS, GIVEN THE INTERNATNAL OLYMPICS COMMTEE’S MMENT TO LGBTQ EQUALY, MANDG LEGAL PROTECTN AGAST DISCRIMATN. BUT THE MOST THE LG LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (LDP) AGREED TO WAS TO SUBM TO THE DIET A DRAFT LGBT EQUALY ACT SEEKG TO PROMOTE UNRSTANDG, BUT FAILG TO MAKE ANY PROVISN FOR THE RIGHT TO BE EE OM DISCRIMATN. IN THE EVENT, THE TEXT OF THE DRAFT ACT WAS CHANGED SO AS TO CLU A STATEMENT CLARG DISCRIMATN ON THE GROUND OF SEXUAL ORIENTATN AND GENR INTY “UNACCEPTABLE,” BUT THE LDP THEN FAILED TO SUBM TO THE DIET AT ALL BEFORE THE RELEVANT SSN CLOSED AHEAD OF THE GAM.ON THE RELATNSHIP REGNN ONT, RECENT YEARS TENSNS HAVE EMERGED BETWEEN THE APPROACH OF THE NATNAL ERNMENT, LARGELY OPPOSED TO SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP REGNN, AND THAT OF LOL MUNICIPALI. AN CREASG NUMBER OF THE HAS BEEN AFFORDG SAME-SEX UPL THE OPPORTUNY TO FORMALISE THEIR RELATNSHIP, RULTG LIMED – LEGALLY UNENFORCEABLE – NSEQUENC.THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN TENSNS THE APPROACH TAKEN BY DIFFERENT URTS. IN 2020, THE NAGOYA DISTRICT COURT (AICHI) HELD THAT SAME-SEX UPL SHOULD NOT BE TREATED LIKE DIFFERENT-SEX FACTO UPL FOR THE PURPOS OF PENSATG SURVIVG SPO FOR THE LOSS OF THEIR PARTNERS DUE TO CRIMAL ACTS. ON THE OTHER HAND, SAME-SEX LOVERS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE BOTH RPONSIBLE FOR AND ENTLED TO ADULTERY-RELATED DAMAG, RPECTIVELY A 2021 CISN OF THE TOKYO DISTRICT COURT AND A 2020 LG OF THE TOKYO HIGH COURT AFFIRMG THE CISN OF THE MOKA BRANCH OF THE UTSONOMIYA DISTRICT COURT, TOCHIGI. THE HIGH COURT EXPLICLY SISTED ON THE FUNCTNAL EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN (SOME) SAME-SEX RELATNSHIPS AND HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE.THE QUTN OF SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP REGNN ALSO HAS IMPLITNS FOR TRANSGENR PEOPLE JAPAN. THIS EXPLAS WHY SOME JAPANE TRANS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MPAIGNG FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ALONGSI LGB PEOPLE. SCE LEGAL REGNN FOR TRANS PEOPLE JAPAN REQUIR GENR REASSIGNMENT SURGERY (AS NFIRMED BY THE SUPREME COURT 2019), A PRE-OPERATIVE OR NON-OPERATIVE TRANS PERSON WH A PARTNER OF THE SAME BIRTH-SEX IS UNABLE TO MARRY, BEE, FOR LEGAL PURPOS, THEY ARE NOT REGNISED AS A DIFFERENT-SEX UPLE. TH, THE TRODUCTN OF SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP REGNN LAWS WOULD ALSO BENEF HETEROSEXUAL PRE-OPERATIVE AND NON-OPERATIVE TRANS PEOPLE JAPAN, AT LEAST UNTIL THE LAWS ON GENR REGNN ARE LIBERALISED.A 2019 SE VOLVG A NON-OPERATIVE SOUTH-EAST ASIAN TRANS WOMAN PARTNERED WH A JAPANE MAN ILLTRAT THE TERSECTN BETWEEN MATTERS OF TRANS REGNN AND SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP REGNN JAPAN. THE PAIR WAS UNABLE TO MARRY AND SECURE A VISA FOR THE TRANS WOMAN, BEE BY LAW SHE IS NSIRED MALE, YET SHE OBTAED LEAVE TO REMA JAPAN OM THE JTICE MISTRY, ON THE GROUND OF HER RELATNSHIP. THIS OUTE N BE READ EHER AS AN IMPLIC AFFIRMATN OF HER GENR INTY AS FEMALE, AND OF HER RELATNSHIP AS A FACTO HETEROSEXUAL ONE, FUNCTNALLY EQUIVALENT TO MARRIAGE; OR AS IMPLYG THAT SAME-SEX RELATNSHIPS SHOULD BE TREATED ON A PAR WH HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAG FOR AT LEAST SOME LEGAL PURPOS.THE MOST SIGNIFINT RECENT LEGAL VELOPMENT, HOWEVER, IS THE FIRST JUDGMENT THE SO-LLED “VALENTE DAY LAWSU,” LNCHED SEVERAL DISTRICT URTS FEBARY 2019 WH A VIEW TO SPEARHEADG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LAW REFORM. IN MARCH, THE SAPPORO DISTRICT COURT LED THAT THE FAILURE TO LEGALLY REGNISE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WAS UNNSTUTNAL. WILL THE SUPREME COURT TAKE THE SAME VIEW IF THE SE REACH ?  GIVEN S LEGENDARY SELF-RTRAT WHEN EXERCISG S POWER OF JUDICIAL REVIEW, S RELUCTANCE TO SEE THE CONSTUTN AS A SOURCE OF LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE OBLIGATNS, AND THE LIMS OF THE DIALOGIC APPROACH TENDS TO FAVOUR, I DOUBT THAT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE REFORM N BE ACHIEVED VIA THE JUDICIAL BRANCH JAPAN.THIS LEAV THE POLIL BRANCH. HOWEVER, THOUGH A SIZEABLE MORY OF 115 MEMBERS (OUT OF A TOTAL OF 710) OF THE NATNAL DIET HAVE PUBLICLY CLARED THEIR SUPPORT FOR GAY MARRIAGE, LS THAN A DOZEN OF THEM BELONG TO THE LG LDP. THE SYMBOLISM OF MARRIAGE MAY BE SIMPLY TOO MUCH FOR NSERVATIVE JAPANE LAWMAKERS NSUMED WH ANXIETI ABOUT UPSETTG TRADNAL VALU. SUCH FEARS, HOWEVER, LOOM MUCH LARGER THE MDS OF POLICIANS THAN THE POPULATN AT LARGE: NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF JAPANE ADULTS AGED 20-59 SUPPORT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.ONE MAY SPECULATE THAT THE SYMBOLISM OF MARRIAGE MIGHT MATTER LS TO JAPANE QUEERS THAN THE PRACTIL LEGAL PROTECTNS ASSOCIATED WH RELATNSHIP REGNN, CLUDG IMMIGRATN RIGHTS FOR FOREIGN PARTNERS OF JAPANE CIZENS. IN THE CIRCUMSTANC, A REFORM APPROACH BASED ON ATRALIA’S DISTCTIVE MOL OF -FACTO SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP REGNN (PNEERED NEW SOUTH WAL, WHERE PREDATED THE TRODUCTN OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE FERAL LAW BY ALMOST TWO S) MAY BE A MORE PROMISG WAY FORWARD FOR JAPAN THAN MPAIGNG AND LIGATG FOR THE RIGHT TO MARRY.ALEARDO ZANGHELLI IS PROFSOR OF LAW AND SOCIAL THEORY AT THE UNIVERSY OF READG. HIS AREAS OF SPECIALISATN CLU THE POLICS AND ERNANCE OF SEXUALY AND GENR. ALEARDO IS THE THOR OF TWO REARCH MONOGRAPHS: THE SEXUAL CONSTUTN OF POLIL AUTHORY: THE ‘TRIALS’ OF SAME-SEX DIRE (2015), AND IMAGATIVE RISTANCE, QUEER FICTN AND THE LAW: SAME-SEX DIRE AND THE GOOD LIFE HETERONORMATIVE ORRS (2021), BOTH PUBLISHED BY ROUTLEDGE.THIS ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED UNR A CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE AND MAY BE REPUBLISHED WH ATTRIBUTN.RELATED ARTICL

More than 92% of Japane people aged 18 to 29 say homosexualy should be accepted by society, acrdg to a 2021 report by the Pew Rearch Center. Enomic lears have said they fear Japan will not be able to rema ternatnally petive whout greater diversy, cludg reprentatn for the lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr muny. In districts like Shju Nichōme, Tokyo’s gay neighborhood, Japane and foreign talk, drk, and mgle, long-standg private bars, clubs, drag shows, and on the streets outsi nvenience stor.

Their relatnships most likely varied greatly by suatn and across time perds, but a typil nanshoku pairg rporated many dimensns: mentorship and stewardship, platonic iendship, as well as physil acts of homosexual sex. The practice only began to fa wh the Meiji Rtoratn the late 1800s, when scty om the Wt led to a refg of homosexualy and heterosexualy Japane society. While historil pictns of Nobunaga and Ranma sometim fully portray them as gay lovers, we mt be reful to separate historic nanshoku and the figur there om LGBTQ issu today, and to avoid mornizg norms of that era to f our ncept of sexualy and romance.

We n fer queer people have always existed, and that some practners of nanshoku—perhaps cludg Nobunaga and Ranma—might have self-intified as queer or gay if displaced to our morn time wh our morn fns, although we nnot know for sure. His 1959 film Sekishuncho, or Farewell to Sprg, picts timate and emotnal relatnships between s male characters, and is often regnized as “Japan’s first gay film. In addn to his homoerotic wrg, Mishima was reported to have vised gay bars and to have had an affair wh wrer Jiro Fhima.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* JAPANESE LGBT

Comment on this story</tle><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg></button><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Comment</span><span class="wpds-c-fOvfhP wpds-c-fOvfhP-kshkDy-isCommentType-te none" aria-hidn="te"><span class="ment-unt font-xxxxs sc-ral-unt"><span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">SHOBARA, Japan — The grays of wter have lgered this ral town southwtern Japan, where tilled rice paddi look like barren plots of dirt and only the most attentive tre have started wakg up to sprg.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The dullns mak the one pop of lor even more strikg: The rabow flag that hangs outsi the home of Kei Okuda, a svelte 62-year-old wh a sleek grayg ponytail and a bold red lip.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Until transng to life as a woman four years ago, Okuda’s life was filled wh wav. At their crt, her nfn about her genr inty would be unbearable. The moments of lm at the trough — when the uncertati would subsi — staed her through a 31-year heterosexual marriage as a father of four.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The marriage broke down for reasons unrelated to her inty, she said. But a few months later, Okuda had a dream that she was a woman — and she woke up tears of joy, she said. It was an epiphany. When she enuntered the term “transgenr,” she realized was what she had been searchg for all along.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“When I started to wear drs and wear makp, rather than feelg like I was beg a woman, I felt like I … returned to who I really was,” Okuda said. “It felt right, and I fally felt safe my own sk.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Still, the transn was not easy, not her town of about 35,000 rints nor Hiroshima, the neart big cy. People mocked her and poted at her. She stggled wh thoughts of suici.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">Japan’s ary ignored her sexual asslt claims, so she went public</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Like many socially nservative Asian natns, Japan remas a hostile place for lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer people. Social taboos have kept many Japan’s LGBTQ muny largely visible, fearful to e out to their loved on or employers.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Japan’s rerd on LGBTQ issu has e unr ternatnal scty as prepar to host the Group of Seven summ Hiroshima for the lears of the world’s richt untri. In 2021, the Japane Diet was unable to pass a bill to protect LGBTQ people om discrimatn. It is now nsirg a watered-down versn that aims to “promote the unrstandg” of LGBTQ muni but clus no legal protectn.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Japan is the only G-7 untry not to regnize same-sex marriag, and Prime Mister Fum Kishida is facg lls for actn. Last month, ambassadors to Japan om the six other G-7 untri <a href=" target=_blank>wrote a jot letter to Kishida</a>, urgg him to enact legal protectns for LGBTQ muni. Taiwan is the only place Asia where such marriag are regnized.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">But attus are slowly shiftg toward acceptance here.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">About 71 percent of Japane people support same-sex marriage, acrdg to a poll nducted late Febary by Sankei Shimbun, a right-leang Japane newspaper. The support is even more pronounced among the younger generatn, wh 91 percent of those ag 18-29 support.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The majory of Japane people do not believe the rights of LGBTQ muni are protected, acrdg to a Febary poll by the left-leang Maichi Shimbun.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">Japane official’s homophobic remarks highlight laggg LGBTQ rights</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Several prefectur, <a href=" target="_blank">cludg Tokyo</a>, have extend some benefs to same-sex upl. Last month, a Japane urt granted a long-term visa to an Amerin man who married a Japane man the Uned Stat.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Yet the natnal ernment — led by overwhelmgly olr, male and nservative el — has been slow to act, wh some policians actively hostile to gay people, llg them “unproductive” to childbirth. Only one out of the 713 members of the Japane legislature is openly gay. About 1 10 people Japan intify as a member of the LGBTQ muny, acrdg to a <a href=" target=_blank>2020 natnal survey</a>.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“There is a fe generatn gap when to LGBTQ rights,” said Gon Matsunaka, head of Pri Hoe Tokyo, a pro-LGBTQ nsortium of nonprofs, rporatns and supportive embassi. “When you look at policians Japan, the average age is people their 60s, and most people who are power the [erng party] are their 70s, so we n see why ’s difficult for change to happen.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Kishida has faced a rocky two months over the issue. In Febary, he fired an ai for makg homophobic remarks, but he also drew cricism for sayg he did not thk that a same-sex marriage ban nstuted “unjt discrimatn by the state.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><div id="gift-share-le" data-ttid="gift-share-le" class="PJLV PJLV-ilotWTr-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-le" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-goNocI-placement-Inle foc-highlight"><div data-ttid="gift-share-terstial-trigger" class="wpds-c-kPqOkS wpds-c-kPqOkS-jtSXsT-hasSubsText-false"><span class="wpds-c-hBJqc"><span class="wpds-c-dzSncg">Share this article</span></span><span class="wpds-c-eCvK"><span class="wpds-c-enedHQ wpds-c-enedHQ-cCdK-isShown-false">Share</span><svg xmlns=" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp wpds-c-fDHGth"><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg></span></div></button></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“The Japane ernment will ntue to listen to a wi range of cizens’ voic and work diligently to realize a society where diversy is valued and all people n live vibrant liv while rpectg one another’s human rights and digny,” the Prime Mister’s Office said a statement.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Matsunaka said the time is ripe for actn. This is partly bee of the growg public support, but also bee of a key shift the polil landspe: tensifyg scty of an fluential nservative relig group, the Unifitn Church, after the assassatn of former prime mister Shzo Abe, when<a href=" target=_blank> ti between the group and the lg party were revealed</a>.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In the meantime, the LGBTQ muny remas a target of harassment onle and offle. In recent weeks, the trans muny has been the subject of onle attacks, which have put a spotlight on the legal and social difficulti they face transng.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p><span class="wpds-c-gnhuPA wpds-c-gnhuPA-hqeSyH-variant-terstial wpds-c-gnhuPA-iPJLV-css hi-for-prt"><a data-qa="terstial-lk" href=">Trans Ameri" Most trans adults say transng ma them more satisfied wh their liv</a></span></p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The number of people changg their registered genr intifitn has risen om 97 2004 to nearly 1,000 2019. But the procs is ntroversial bee Japane law requir <a href=" target="_blank" class="ntextual_lk">sex reassignment</a> surgery orr for people to change their genr on official rerds. (Japan’s top urt is reviewg the requirement.)</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Okuda, the transgenr woman Shobara, said there is a lack of support for sexual mori. The only reprentatns she saw mass media of LGBTQ people were edic ritur on televisn shows. She didn’t intify wh them or the mockery they subjected themselv to for entertament.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Knowg this, Okuda opened a lol safe space for anyone seekg support or who wants to learn about the LGBTQ muny. The space, Chosen Fay Shobara, is open every Friday. Some days, she has no visors, and other days, as many as 10 people vis om var parts of Japan.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“We [transgenr people] don’t harm others, and we jt want to exist and live out our liv,” Okuda said. “I want people to know that we are not monsters, but jt real human begs.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Others are siarly workg to create supportive spac for members of the muny and raise awarens.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">One such effort is Nijiiro Kazoku (“Rabow Fay”), which foc on supportg LGBTQ fai that are tryg to navigate legal rtrictns and social stigma. The fay registry system Japan is stctured such that only one parent a same-sex relatnship n be registered fay rerds, leavg the other parent wh no legal rights to the child.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In Febary, the group anized an effort to get children of LGBTQ upl to wre letters to Kishida, urgg him to legalize same-sex marriage. Taiga Ishikawa, the only openly gay lawmaker Japan and an opposn party member, read the letters to Kishida at a legislative ssn.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I have 2 moms. They are partners who want to get married but they n’t bee of the le Japan. Can you please change the le Japan, and make same-sex marriage possible?” a first-grar Osaka wrote one of the letters. “I would be really happy if you would. The mom who didn’t give birth to me is also my mom. Please let her be the fay.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">A third-grar om Kumamoto wrote: “To Prime Mister Kishida: My hoe has two moms but I am happy, and our t and dog are always sleepg happily and eatg lots of food.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Ha Ono, -lear of the group, said she hop such ttimoni will show the public and lawmakers that LGBTQ people exist Japan — and serve equal rights.</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“We have often been nsired as the imagary begs,” Ono said. “They talk about as if [LGBTQ] is a new ncept that is gog to exist the future, but we already exist, and there are real kids and fai right now.”</p></div><div class="article-body grid-center grid-body grid-tablet-full-bleed" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="wpds-c-dhzjXW wpds-c-dhzjXW-iPJLV-css mt-md grid-center grid-body"><div id="gift-share-end" data-ttid="gift-share-end" class="PJLV PJLV-idiqKOk-css hi-for-prt"><button aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expand="false" aria-ntrols="gift-share-drawer" role="button" tabx="0" aria-label="Share this article" id="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" data-ttid="gift-share-drawer-ntrol-end" class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-gsmDXe wpds-c-gsmDXe-iIVoLq-placement-Shortcut foc-highlight"><div class="wpds-c-UazGY" id="gift-share-shortcut" data-ttid="gift-share-shortcut"><svg xmlns=" fill="var(--wpds-lors-primary)" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fVfumU "><path fill="currentColor" d="M8 .6v3.8h.1c-4.4 0-7.3 4.5-6.9 8.8.1.8.2 1.2.2 1.2l.2 1 .4-1.3c.8-2 2-4 6.2-3.9H8v4l7-6.9L8 .6Zm1 11.3V9.3h-.9c-3 0-4.8.5-6.2 2.9.5-3.3 2.7-6.8 6.2-6.8H9V3l4.5 4.4L9 11.9Z"></path></svg><div class="PJLV wpds-c-kwcHlj">Share</div></div></button></div><div class="wpds-c-hcekgi"><div class="mb-lg-mod" data-qa="ments-btn-div"><button aria-label="Scroll to the ments sectn" data-qa="ments-btn" class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-sendary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-nsy-flt wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-igqYgPb-css ments hi-for-prt"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-fBqPWp "><path d="M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z"></path></svg><span></span> Comments</button></div></div></div><div class="grid-center grid-body"><div></div></div></article><div class="centered-layout grid-layout"><div class="grid-center grid-mobile-full-bleed"><div class="hi-for-prt ml-to mr-to mt-md pt-lg recirc" data-qa="recirc"><div class="flex-l jtify-center hi-for-prt"><div class="pr-sm ml-sm ml-0-ns b-l br-l bc-gray-darkt more-om-post"><div></div><div class="dn db-l pb-md pt-md"><div data-qa="newsletter" class="hi-for-prt relative"><div class="dib w-100"><div><div class="flex jtify-center align self-center center transn-all duratn-400 ease--out" data-qa="sc-newsletter-signup" aria-label=""><svg aria-labelledby="react-aria-1-aria" role="img" viewBox="0 0 100 80"><tle id="react-aria-1-aria">Loadg... .

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