Tokyo To Begin Recognizing Same-Sex Partnerships

The Associated Press reports:

Japan’s capital has announced it will start recognizing same-sex partnerships to ease the burdens faced by residents in their daily lives, but the unions will not be considered legal marriages. Support for sexual diversity has grown slowly in Japan, but legal protections are still lacking.

The Tokyo metropolitan government unveiled a draft plan on Tuesday to accept registrations starting in October from sexual-minority couples seeking certificates of their partnerships. Same-sex couples are often barred from renting apartments together, hospital visits and other services available to married couples.

A number of couples are fighting in courts for the right to marry. The Sapporo district court ruled last year that Japan’s failure to recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Taiwan is the only Asian nation or territory that has legalized same-sex marriage.

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