Transgender Lawyer Shun Nakaoka Fights Against the Japanese Courts for Greater Rights for Sexual Minorities

Satoko Onuki from The Asahi Shimbun:

Shun Nakaoka, a transgender lawyer, suffered repeated losses in her battle against Japan’s judicial system, but she refused to give up.

The fight reflected much of what she has gone through in her life.

A story of a great person that continuously fights for the rights of the marginalized. Japan has made some progress in LGBT and specifically trans rights, but there is so much more to go.

Changing Gender Without Surgery Declared Constitutional, Major Win for Transgender People in Japan

From Kyodo:

A Japanese high court on Wednesday approved an official gender change for a transgender woman who has not undergone confirmation surgery as legally required, in a rare decision.

The clause requiring gender confirmation surgery is "suspected of being unconstitutional" as it forces an individual to choose between undergoing surgery or giving up on gender change, the Hiroshima High Court said.

One more step. Also major props to all these Japanese courts that have been delivering similar ruling and pressuring the central government to act and legalized LGBT rights nationwide.

City in Nagasaki Prefecture Accidently Registers Same Sex Couple

From The Yomiuri Shimbun:

The city of Omura in Nagasaki Prefecture issued resident certificates to a same-sex couple in May that use the term meant for common-law husbands, prompting the alarmed Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry to send a letter to the city on Monday.

Hey, any progress towards LGBT equality is good progress. More bureaucratic screwups please.

Gay African Man in Osaka Granted Refugee Status After Prolonged Court Case

Ryoko Kijima & Keiko Shioji from The Mainichi:

In the lawsuit, the man argued that his fear of persecution could be sufficiently recognized, and that he couldn't hope for protection in his home country. The government denied the credibility of his claim, and stated, "It cannot be accepted that there are fears he would be persecuted immediately," and called for his case to be dismissed.

While I am happy for this person for winning his safety in court, it is frustrating that the government, who is trying to boost immigration, fought so hard to send him back to his country of origin. While it is never cited which country he is from, homosexuality in many African countries is illegal and punishable by prison time or worse. Japan should be a beacon for the oppressed, not a wall to climb over.