PRESS CONFERENCE
Tokyo Recognizes Same-Sex Partnerships
Soyoka Yamamoto, Representative of Partnership Act for Tokyo
Gon Matsunaka, Vice Representative of Partnership Act for Tokyo
13:00-14:00 Tuesday, November 1, 2022
(The speech will be in English and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.)
From Nov. 1, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will begin issuing registration certificates for same-sex-partnerships, becoming the largest of dozens of local government bodies to do so, in a step that's been welcomed by LGBTQ campaigners. Some see it as an opportunity to press for more progress in the only Group of Seven country not to allow marriage or civil unions between same-sex partners.
Join us to hear from two activists working for LGBTQ rights in Japan about the merits of Tokyo's new system for same-sex couples in the capital and where it falls short. Without the framework of marriage, same-sex couples often face housing discrimination as well as difficulties with decisions on medical care and they don't have inheritance rights. Attempts to pursue the matter through the courts have achieved mixed results. A Sapporo District Court found last year that same-sex couples' lack of access to some of the rights afforded by marriage amounted to discrimination, while an Osaka court this year ruled against marriage equality. The government has shown no sign of budging, despite opinion polls showing the public is increasingly in favor of equal marriage.
How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/uZxyCpQgTHEPHW2k7
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event.
Professional Activities Committee