Why Japan Is Considering a Move Toward LGBTQ Rights

Japan is the only country among the Group of Seven advanced democracies without any laws to protect the rights of LGBTQ people, let alone officially recognize same-sex couples. But as it prepares to host a G-7 summit in May, pressure is building both at home and from abroad on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government for change. Lawmakers are wrestling over a bill to “promote understanding,” but some conservatives oppose an anti-discrimination clause — and marriage equality isn’t even on the table. Some Japanese businesses, meanwhile, are moving ahead with such steps as extending benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees to avoid falling behind in the global competition for talent.

Unlike some countries, Japan has never had a ban on homosexuality, so there’s no danger of facing criminal charges. But the lack of laws prohibiting discrimination or recognizing same-sex marriage puts LGBTQ people at a disadvantage in terms of employment as well as inheritance, medical care and immigration. The Tokyo city government last year joined dozens of other municipalities in allowing same-sex couples to register for a “certificate of acceptance.” Couples can use it in applying for public housing or gain next-of-kin status in hospitals, but the unions have no legal standing. Still, more than 500 couples had registered in Tokyo as of Jan. 31.