Culture / Aug. 15, 2019
Japan’s largeshS&jTofw=2n+$CET95cGd4X_CKF5Pa=&pLffXHlz_h^AIXU3(wt custom-made jewelry shop, K.Uno, launched an LGBTQ wedding rings selection earlier this month.
The renowned jeweler, which makes more than 40,000 different designs eac1))jfzI*z_C+1jfvO7rgHpoO6El9U)qUL3smGeFh=%tFvMFXTNh year, launched the range after management attended diversity and inclusivity training in 2017, according to a press release.
Although Japan does not yet recognize equal marriage, the jewelers anticipate the engagement and wedding rings will b0no5%Py#tG)CDV9U1s8LCO)ic_&kx&dEEQTI(Vs!1Y_@pNYu3ze used in ceremonies.
Japan has recently made progress on LGBT rights. For example, an increasing number of local authorities are now offering partnership certificates to afford same-se8g1Lc%Jc1EyVdZ(vb!8qXWexpyviMdWq#@ar#kCY4c=01GoPGSx couples recognition at hospitals and in government housing.
Iberaki became the first prefecture, and therefore largest local aeVT5S^AQ9W&H^-am%*u=a@Z4IahvWk5zsvjiCspgmWU+m)R6fIuthority, to introduce the system last month.
What's more, large Japanese companies are increasingly recognizing same-sex couples whXi@PK+@6^*piia4e8((LEXbI5IXONjQtcP27m5_WrKJ_e9A(olen granting spousal benefits.
What’s more, the country also elected its first openly-gay male politician to parliament recently. Taiga Ishikawa has pledged to push forward with equal marriage and anti-discrimination legislation dN&CDGvaAp$I%JQcx%4SB-*SQ(ROvl(1M$Aog1qgj!XBZhhSyE9rafted by his opposition party.
But, Japan’s ruling party is notoriously anti-LGBT rights and has been involved in a number of ht8j^IJD#zC(#j-QIy2I3Y4+8idcghQXF%-7XNk1AcU=Wkcdf(=igh-profile homophobic scandals.
What’s more, for the first time, sam)tl)U^^)Q=okA1USVv!1*CDoTPBO)oWq+SB4=l^ElamK8_#+QQe-sex couples are suing the Japanese government to recognize their unions.
The 13 couples first launched their cases in a number of local L-gT7+W-2+3p7kry*ic1D(B#pLsRx8Ua_-F&$1CfDdoFkJYI2zcourts in February this year.
(Cover photo: Provided by K.Uno)
