NEWSWORTHY
Japan's businesses should take lead on LGBT rights: U.N. official
A senior U.N. Human Rights official said the Japanese business sector should play a greater role in eliminating discrimination against sexual minorities. "I think there is less progress both in laws and in public attitudes in Japan than the other six countries of the G7," ...
Japan's social security net for transgender people improving but obstacles loom for seniors
People diagnosed with gender dysphoria in Japan are getting more support from social security, including the ability to have the names they usually go by printed on their health insurance cards and to get coverage for gender reassignment surgery under certain conditions. But even as ...
Japan's wedding ring jewelers look to become more LGBT-friendly
While same-sex marriage has not been legalized in Japan, some firms in the country's wedding jewelry industry have started taking steps to make their products and stores more LGBT-friendly. Primo Japan Inc. announced earlier this month that it has started to promote a "gender-free" concept ...
Huge Sao Paulo parade celebrates gay pride in Brazil, focuses on elections
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Brazil's largest city Sunday for its 22nd gay pride parade, which is considered one of the world's biggest. Waving LGBT rainbow flags in a Carnival-like atmosphere, marchers paraded down Sao Paulo's skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista to music blasting from ...
The city of Sapporo began issuing cards serving as proof of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender partnerships on Friday, responding to calls from couples seeking portable evidence they can present in emergencies and other situations. The city in Hokkaido started authenticating partnership oaths submitted by ...
High-profile Japanese businesswoman Kazuyo Katsuma announces she is in same-sex relationship
One of the nation's most influential businesswoman on Monday surprised many of the country's working women by disclosing she is in same-sex relationship, possibly a game-changing milestone in the nation's slow but growing acceptance of sexual minorities. Kazuyo Katsuma, a 49-year-old mother of three, was ...
Osaka lavatory signs do more harm than good, say members of LGBT community
Restroom signs for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have drawn an unexpected backlash from sexual minorities in Japan. The city of Osaka put a rainbow-colored sticker representing sexual diversity on the doors of unisex multipurpose restrooms in municipal government buildings in hopes of making ...
Democratic voters have chosen black and Latina women as their candidates for governor in Georgia and Texas, historic wagers for a party embracing minorities and women ahead of November's pivotal midterm elections. As President Donald Trump's Republicans struggle to craft a strategy for defending their ...
LGBTQ voices: Dealing with reality
Despite the advances in awareness surrounding LGBTQ issues, sexual minorities continue to face challenges in disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
With the Rugby World Cup approaching, New Zealand’s national men’s and women’s rugby teams appear to be using Japan as a backdrop to produce a series on videos that help promote their brand. On April 23, the All Blacks and Black Ferns launched a “diversity ...
The rare case involving inheritance from a same-sex partner of almost five decades highlights problems faced by such couples upon the deaths of partners under current legal rules.
LGBTQ voices: Embracing progress
Ahead of Tokyo Rainbow Pride week later this month, we hear from from people in the LGBTQ community about recent moves to raise awareness of sexual minorities in Japan.
