Nakano Ward to recognize same-sex couples.

Nakano Partnership Oath started on September 6th. Nakano Ward, Tokyo started offering partnership certificates at the ward office. The first couple that received a same-sex partnership certificate in Nakano is Chizuka Ooe and Yoko Ogawa. Ms. Ooe is the representative of a support group for lesbians and female bisexuals, LOUD, and another support group aimed at legalizing same-sex marriage in Japan. The couple met at a get-together for lesbians about twenty-five years ago. They have lived together for more than twenty years. Speaking of twenty-five years ago, the internet was not common at all. There was no magazines for lesbians
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Lawmaker, Tomomi Higashi, Comes Out as Asexual and Gender X.

On September 3rd, Tomomi Higashi, a member of the municipal assembly of the Tokyo suburb of Machida, came out as asexual and non-binary gender. “I am a sexual minority,” she posted on her twitter and facebook account. The asexual and non-binary lawmaker was elected for the first time this February, winning the second most votes. She asked about the city’s plan for measures on LGBT+ rights at the regular sessions this March and this June. “I had believed for a long time that I couldn’t be in love with anyone because there was something very important as a human missing
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The Number of People Newly Infected with HIV in 2017 Decreases for The First Time in Eleven Years

HIV/AIDS surveillance in Japan announced on August 27th that the total number of people newly infected with HIV in 2017 was 1,389. 976”HIV” and 413 “AIDS” cases were reported, which is fewer than the previous year. It is the first time in eleven years that the number of “HIV” and “AIDS” cases decreased to less than 1,400. According to the survey, 709 out of 976 “HIV” cases were MSM (men who had sex with men, including bisexual contacts). 226 out of 413 “AIDS” cases were MSM. The ratio of “HIV” cases and “AIDS” cases have been the same in Japan
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Robert Campbell Comes Out to Decry The Discriminatory LDP Lawmaker, Mio Sugita

On August 2nd, Mio Sugita, a junior member of the House of Representatives belonging to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, officially apologized to the public. She faced nationwide backlash after writing an article that LGBT+ people are “unproductive” insisting taxpayers’ money should not be spent on them. However, Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation (J-ALL) did not accept her apology and asked her to take back her apology and article. Criticism towards Mio Sugita kept growing and the protest that asks for Mio Sugita to resign continued. The protest took place in Shibuya on 5th, and in front of the LDP
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CDP plans to revise Civil Code as to legalize same-sex marriage and to eliminate discrimination against sexual minority

On July 30th, Tetsuro Fukuyama of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan(CDP) told reporters that the party was planning to revise Civil Code to legalize same-sex marriage to eliminate discrimination against sexual minority. “The CDP has decided to work on this issue. We have already started discussion,” Mr. Fukuyama said. While the discriminatory lawmaker, Mio Sugita of LDP faced nationwide backlash from the nation’s LGBT+ community after labeling them as “unproductive” in terms of childbirth, the CDP started making a bill and is planning to submit it to the next session of the Diet. Mr. Fukuyama had already met with
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Liberal Democratic Party Lawmaker Mio Sugita facing nationwide criticism after labeling LGBT couples “unproductive” citizens who do not deserve social support.

On July 19th, a LDP lawmaker Mio Sugita contributed an article to a magazine Shincho 45 and labeled LGBT couples “unproductive” citizens in terms of childbirth, declaring that the taxpayer’s money should not be used for them. In addition to that, she expressed her anxiety about people choosing a bathroom according to the sex they identify with, insisting that a society without “common sense” and “normalcy” loses social order and collapse eventually. “I don’t want this to happen in Japan,” she wrote in the article. In response to her article, Nikkan Gendai released an article to accuse her of ignorance
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A gay man whose partner was murdered filed a lawsuit, asking for survivors benefits

On July 9th, a gay man whose partner was murdered filed a lawsuit, asking for survivors benefits for victims of crime after Aichi Prefecture rejected his application. In December, 2014, Hideaki Mizuno, aged 52 who lived in Nagoya city, was murdered. The killer was condemned to fourteen years in prison. Yasuhide Uchiyama, aged 43, had lived with his deceased partner for twenty years when he was murdered. The couple also started to live with his mother in 2010. They had lived together long enough to be considered as in a domestic relationship, so Mr. Uchiyama applied for survivors benefits for
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Osaka City Has Started Issuing Same-sex Partnership Certificates

On July 9th, the city’s first same-sex partnership certificate was given to a same-sex couple. Three couples came to receive the certificates that day. One of the three was the lawyer couple, Lawyer Minami and Lawyer Yoshida. The two signed the written oath of partnership and submitted it to Mayor Yoshimura. Finally, they received the certificate. Along with the certificates, Osaka city now allows same-sex couples to live together in the city-owned apartments. The city is also in the process of making guidelines about same-sex partnerships for local businesses with an aim to better understanding and awareness in the city.
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Saitama City to Start Same-sex Partnership System

2018:07:03 We released the news that support group submitted a petition to 27 local municipalities that asks for recognition of same-sex partnerships the other day. Guess what! Saitama city announced that they will start a same-sex partnership system. On July 3rd, Mayor Shimizu Hayato clearly announced the city’s plan to issue same-sex partnership certificates. The decision was made after the petition submitted by the support group. “We hope we can show our positive attitude that respects sexual diversity in the city,” the mayor said. “We are still in the process of deciding when to start it, but within the first
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Ochanomizu Women’s University to Accept MtF Transgender Students from 2020

2018:07:02 Ochanomizu Women’s University announced that they will accept applications from transgender students who identify as female from 2020. The university will be Japan’s first women university that accepts transgender students. Ochanomizu Women’s University traces its origin to Meiji Era. It was founded as Japan’s first women’s university run by the nation. There are approximately 3000 students studying in the university. Ochanomizu Women’s University has since accepted applications from female students whose family registry is registered as “female.” However, the university is to accept applications from transgender students who identify as female from 2020. According to Ministry of Education, Culture,
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