The World Briefly
July 13, 2023No Permission Needed
Japan
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Japan’s Supreme Court ruled this week that it was illegal to restrict a transgender person from using certain bathrooms, the country’s first verdict on LGBTQ people’s rights in the workplace, Bloomberg reported.
The case centers on a transgendered woman working for Japan’s trade ministry, who was only allowed to use the men’s restrooms – or the female restrooms two floors away from her office.
She filed a lawsuit against the government in 2015, saying that her request to improve her situation was denied.
In its ruling, the court called the restrictions “illegal,” adding that they pandered excessively to her colleagues and downplayed the disadvantages suffered by the official, Nikkei Asia wrote.
Following the verdict, government officials said relevant ministries “will respond appropriately after closely studying the court’s ruling.”
The court’s decision comes weeks after Japan passed a bill that seeks to protect LGBTQ understanding. But human rights groups and activists criticized the law for only discouraging “unfair” discrimination and not providing human rights guarantees for the community, according to CNN.
Japan has come under scrutiny for its lack of protection for sexual and gender minorities. It’s the only Group of Seven country with no legal protections for same-sex unions.
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