Tokyo to recognize same-sex partnerships starting in November
Tokyo has announced last week that it will recognize same-sex partnerships to ease the burdens on residents in their daily lives starting in November. However, the unions will not be considered legal marriages.
Tokyo will join the eight other prefectures that have previously implemented some type of same-sex partnership system. Including Akita, Aomori, Ibaraki, Gunma, Mie, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Saga, when the legislation takes effect in November.
In Japan, support for sexual variety is progressively growing. But legal safeguards for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender persons are still lacking.
There is no legal recognition for same-sex marriage in Japan. And LGBTQ people often face discrimination at school, at work, and at home, causing many to hide their sexual orientation.
Prior to last summer’s Tokyo Olympics, when international attention focused on Japan, rights groups attempted to pass an equality act. But, the conservative government, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, quashed the bill.
On Tuesday, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government revealed a draft proposal to begin accepting registrations from sexual-minority couples seeking certification of their unions in October.
Same-sex couples are often denied access to apartment rentals, hospital visits, and other services reserved for married couples.
According to the Tokyo administration, applicants will be restricted to adult residents of Tokyo but will include international citizens. Moreover, it said that partnership recognition is not the same as a marriage certificate.
The Purpose of Tokyo’s Recognition
“To increase awareness of sexual variety among Tokyo residents and eliminate everyday hassles around sexual minorities to provide more comfortable living circumstances for them,” as per the statement emphasizing its sole purpose.
The plan covers the entire capital. The Shibuya district of Tokyo was the first Japanese municipality to issue non-legally binding partnership certificates to same-sex partners in 2015. According to advocacy organizations, over 200 additional towns throughout Japan have now taken similar moves or roughly 12% of the total.
A handful of couples are battling for the right to marry in the courts. Last year, a district court in Sapporo declared that Japan’s refusal to recognize same-gender marriage is unconstitutional.
Taiwan remains the only Asian country or territory to allow same-gender marriage.
