Japan Upholds Law to Sterilize Trans Citizens
Addison Herron-Wheeler is OUT FRONT's co-publisher and editor-in-chief and friend…
There is an archaic rule on the books in Japan that demands the forced sterilization of trans people. The Japanese Supreme Court just unanimously upheld keeping that law in place.
Japan Today explains that as of 2003, trans people must “permanently lack” functioning reproductive glands in order to be officially recognized as the gender they identify with. Trans people must also be single, have no children under 20, and undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Upset queer folks and allies took to Twitter to express their anger with the decision, and also to point out that this is also still an issue in many European countries.
This is another example of why trans people have a stake in reproductive justice. However, Japan isn’t the only country sterilizing trans people though. In 14 European countries, compulsory sterilization is necessary for trans people to receive legal gender recognition. https://t.co/kt6DcIEe7O
— chrysanthemum tran (@chrystran) January 25, 2019
This is another example of why trans people have a stake in reproductive justice. However, Japan isn’t the only country sterilizing trans people though. In 14 European countries, compulsory sterilization is necessary for trans people to receive legal gender recognition. https://t.co/kt6DcIEe7O
— chrysanthemum tran (@chrystran) January 25, 2019
Last time I checked, forced sterilisation of trans people still takes place in 23 European countries including Belgium, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Russia, and Switzerland. France and Norway only stopped a couple of years ago https://t.co/r6cv3WyTuQ
— Jennifer Harrison (@GeneticJen) January 25, 2019
The trial was brought to light by a trans man in Japan, and has been going on for five years.
“It is unthinkable in this day and time that the law requires a sex-change operation to change gender,” said Tomoyasu Oyama, lawyer of Takakito Usui, the man who brought the case to trial. “When the law was established 15 years ago, LGBT people had to make a bitter decision and swallow the conditions to pave a narrow way for official change of gender. With this decision, I hope lawmakers will change the law to support the wishes of the LGBT community.”
Although this law has been widely criticized by human rights groups and many LGBTQ conditions in Japan have improved, this is still a huge step backwards for trans folks and the community worldwide.
What's Your Reaction?
Addison Herron-Wheeler is OUT FRONT's co-publisher and editor-in-chief and friend to dogs everywhere. She enjoys long walks in the darkness away from any sources of sunlight, rainy days, and painfully dry comedy. She also covers cannabis and heavy metal, and is author of Wicked Woman: Women in Metal from the 1960s to Now and Respirator, a short story collection.