News / Sep. 04, 2019
The Japanet_tv)=v$0yc5@G5GL4Yterkj%jD11ys2(t^D3Fl$y3s-JsO9Kese government this week granted a long-term visa to a South Asian transgender woman.
It is believed to be the first transgendeGU!q!Hu3Nw3bJ^qxdH_Ra^4PjQbDOHn02K()pO7x7h-IO3*-&@r person to receive special permission to stay in the country, according to the Japan Times.
The 58-year-old was granted a one-year long-term resident visa. She first came to Japan in 1981 under *+taSu6Twb+HYiUJC_1)!9DAdgWV!sF)D^YoFZXuDhCmP!=-+uan entertainer visa.
She could not return to her hoJ@C@^$KSrta+ds1c20+UlcoT_7whIH3!RXi&m$6^TvbCW=#(A*me country because she faced abuse because of her gender identity, the Japan Times reports.
In 2002 she met her current partner. The pairjvYYZ_&lgC=zf4#WiHTaU2d5fuARko47LfrfxI9hxE57^j&$YS registered their relationship in 2016.
“Her long-term relationship with a Japanese man may have been a decisive factor the Justice Ministry took into consideration while reviewing the case,” said Miho Kumazawa, a lawyer representing the woman, at a news conference in Tokyo on Mondaz5JcZnLYTV2b2mWzD10Hpp%w(PeJu%nC4cu!R^Ry-le)dK6S2*y.
“I need to repay the kindness I’ve been given (by Japan) and I’ll do my best to keep my promise I gave when I was granted the visa” the woman, who refused to give her name or nationality, said during Monday’s news conference.
LGBTI rights in Japan
Japan is the only member of the G7 bloc ogspEBW+kWNExxndyI#(YtM18#J&@B3o9j+sWpT_M@32yzY*Xa-f most-developed nations that does not recognize same-sex marriage.
National laws do not protect LGBTI people from discrimination. The country’s laws also require transgender citizens to undergo sterilio94ONZZA4rxnXP7l5YUnFyAvwqN%V)86vi$QBBjx=#ViTegi5yzation in order to officially change gender.
But, X&z(u3Z68snDmW1*K#0Dw9HV_htFOnnYKclz_zA!-@Bto4J&bxincreasing numbers of local administrations are recognizing same-sex couples with partnership certificates which give very limited recognition and rights.
And, 13 same-sex couples are ta6W0NZMK88U8eqvg#gW!3_TyHZFbK6cKR1GCr0xQUHZnJ@#C1#kking the government to court to recognize their relationships.
In March this yearwAqB!eymwET5)Z!vzVwyT@doJzS(tD=Ww1*#h)b$unDYdU()wu, Japan granted special permission to a gay Taiwanese man to stay in Japan with his partner.
The man, who is in his 40s, lived with his partner in Japan yTtqWdQW)r%45T7uSJePB9u^RPo7SU!%do=E2@O17s)#)STRazfor 25 years.
He illegally overstayed his visa. However, in a rare move by the government, his deportation order was revoked and a special resi)EixW$Y1JZk8tXJdMzFUbJ-g1!&^ZXs^J5)UotxM)VM9SDg$Xddency status was granted.
And, in July, it was announced that Japan last year granted an LGBTI refugee asylum last year as they were at risk due to the^IfXeaGErVtLM*RsD4P=twE$BBkNUYEm=$Pe6TDF(BSI+52a^Sir sexuality in their country of origin.
It was the first known case of Japan granting asylum based on sexual orienU-Hp*vWlfyIDQnoeI4y2Vo*nc_Kn3^x&-Q$m9%_JZnB0FMeP4Utation.
