News / Sep. 04, 2019
The Japanese government this week granted a long-term visa to a SouwdPc6fV*tK(Y7_M92hQ*85ALAY6XawL+7o4@Hl$X#3I!H4K-sYth Asian transgender woman.
It is believed to be the kSCB(kKlFm-&IbCCzd=U4B9+oDO==(!rN6psqHT!SkGS*mtShwfirst transgender person to receive special permission to stay in the country, according to the Japan Times.
The 58-year-old was granted a one-year long-term residentKHvz-yeNzD!Cag9^uZOG(sD8KQZumaOIASzJpNe&Ib!vxJxfmW visa. She first came to Japan in 1981 under an entertainer visa.
She could not return to her home country because she faced abuse because of hergFHPSK=VT6l7H!S6KIQz6vq&X85!PcTLjuQTmcCD2*y63PFD5u gender identity, the Japan Times reports.
In 2002 she met her current partnetcOijS2z(rxTy$k4ED=(Le863b$0^!H^&Zr1M$m5(qsp6f4*zWr. The pair 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 JAwt(_Fu%nHev3B_^j#kuAOpXkW9*h-I))^RH16wg1qGOA^-bdwhile reviewing the case,” said Miho Kumazawa, a lawyer representing the woman, at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
“I needh4tVOZlSZVIpH)=DMT^CfT-vIV(obLiP+8cXEaE7CWedf@l5RV 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 of most-develo(oYE$3q(2@cX)Ql7-0&euSwdJoImxbY#(1n(+7nd4Or*Sr+yTrped nations that does not recognize same-sex marriage.
National laws do not protect LGBTI people from discriminatj^fc6RT)FPRk)&a2phaH$s47((HFP#_qf84E2W5Fr*_=64C#aqion. The country’s laws also require transgender citizens to undergo sterilization in order to officially change gender.
But, increasing numberL+$7sMEEsutP34ehyTra%Mxb=_N0xoBiT)6WWn*ZZTnU9bdzSVs of local administrations are recognizing same-sex couples with partnership certificates which give very limited recognition and rights.
And, 13 same-sex couples are takin3*s5fo2!4yrYANm21se60&$O(4s5l4Qk#olesadrcH65D+m0zxg the government to court to recognize their relationships.
In March this year, Japan granted special permission to a gay Taiw!!Mjw4E*7tb7ui^hW7gI1C(XF-M_Fu4DmYM_jZ-8CC0&G43U6Ganese man to stay in Japan with his partner.
The man, who is in his 40s, lived with his partner in Japp5DbMW9n!U-rmqu6b*YesQtIUlqp5govc)$V$X!s#O9XI!Pa&$an for 25 years.
He illegally overstayed his visa. However, in a rare move by the goveg8LjY-kvg5*m!O1Z2R$)keCgA_p9RSOYBpbDA+O&qY7Igw&@@4rnment, his deportation order was revoked and a special residency status was granted.
And, in July, it was announced that Japan last year grantGoTZ+pCwwn_*mmj%_6gVi1aG$xziKYc2K-OX7E!@wjvVIS%!EEed an LGBTI refugee asylum last year as they were at risk due to their sexuality in their country of origin.
It was the first known#7^eJDn3gkNfypLMyJ)9aES8IGb+sGlkg2NGs6SO_YrVSgIwL1 case of Japan granting asylum based on sexual orientation.
