News / Sep. 04, 2019
The Japanese government this week granted a long-term visa to a South Asian transgender wommhc)rl3Cz@iYxBOsNiIupqobeY#Ci^bXDzV6V@tot5nODWp&u^an.
It is believed to be the first transgender person to receive special permission to stayWBN#jnNRBvbOB2hy=p*DIs)2zav(r!E(X6UelzyoYsju^n3wGa 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 1T%Gak)eS1LdlQ$yOvesGKBANK^YluI1VfzqncmfG(p&e%oc)5D981 under an entertainer visa.
She could not return to her home country because she faced abuse because of her gender ide7^Rkzh87v@F6idb%#f0$M7L^Ugt=^$1pivvBwTTE*@*ddeLa2nntity, the Japan Times reports.
In 2002 she met her current partner. The pair registered their relati=V0tvFBpizmaWlPh_sGDGvd6@&(SZpfw3l#ig*dq2P&7)jM$r=onship in 2016.
“Her long-term relationship with a Japanese man may haRY%l8u=MsIQ*zU89e6sFUeC=Sejcw-Y8_3l3@ZUvpVMF^aZDvdve 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 Monday.
“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 of most-developed nations that does not recognize sa-Q3S&z6GcJ1-G_WibF2BNqIl@Vn8Ug#2SLI1!qa3Rj_S7dczRNme-sex marriage.
National laws do not protect LGBTI people from discrimination. The country’s laws also require transgender citizens to undergo sterilization in ouws^t!9@4PeBuEJr4pxoMmi$7blzdFx#rUHvdln(Y0Fe#c4(f!rder to officially change gender.
But, increasing numbers of local administrations are recognizing same-sex couples with partnership certificates which give very6Htt1dM3n22kDlbK!BUpnTsk8(G(0agql!c^s@(jrfB0Dd=@bS limited recognition and rights.
And, 13 same-sex couples are taking the governme9L8rd08Q=0C-dw7D(M@LpZIWCOU^7ZDA#7WIHYLgz**hs==4TCnt to court to recognize their relationships.
In March this year, Japankmt0*KcreBN2fpR)wSQpz)#8rH$vRuufdUWVd@jsnNKucX$O!0 granted special permission to a gay Taiwanese man to stay in Japan with his partner.
Th9W*nJHEGqT8b322n$Oi(XoiKUd=_&N#tQAFT!zB^2(jF$X^NeEe man, who is in his 40s, lived with his partner in Japan for 25 years.
He illegally overstayed his visa. However, in a rare move by the government, his deportation order was revoked anEFfyM8GMSxLo+q&$lW5U22VeK^*e8q0x_HTa8zbfwjIVyHfKV8d a special residency 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 their sexuality in their couyws6wxek(*2lZMVp1-FwG+9jceD4N-N_=%Rew+*rqKn&-FuPhbntry of origin.
It was the first known3yZmLJo_sybHFtP0RZk4BlEfSe3ER6Cva)jFDr4+0fR=2(OD9- case of Japan granting asylum based on sexual orientation.
