Tokyo Opens Same-Sex Partnership System for Applications
- System does not give recognition to same-sex marriage
- Japan lags behind G-7 peers in marriage-equality rights
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A system to register same-sex partnerships opened for applications in Tokyo on Tuesday, in a symbolic step forward for a country that has fallen behind its peers on embracing diversity.
The system does not offer the legal benefits of marriage for same-sex couples, but has been welcomed by LGBTQ rights groups as a small step forward. Japan is the only Group of Seven major democracy not to allow either same-sex marriage or civil unions -- despite polls showing that the public is largely in favor of the change.