In 2011 and 2014, which will forever remain historic moments, Japan has signed UN Human Rights Council resolutions calling for an end to violence against LGBTQ people and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Malaysia criminalizes same-sex relationships with section 377 of the federal penal code, and things are not about to get any better for LGBTQ people.
India is making a huge step forward for transgender people by simplifying the process of changing gender on official documents.
Next year, Tokyo is set to host the Summer Olympics. Against this backdrop of global attention, LGBTQ activists are actively working to urge the Japanese government to pass an equality law for the LGBTQ community.
JAL, also known as Japan Airlines, has updated their greeting policy to be gender-neutral.
It's official: Kyoto now recognizes same-sex partnerships, marking a significant milestone in the recognition of LGBTQ+ rights in Japan.
A bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples has been introduced in Thailand, but the bill is far from perfect.
In Japan, equal marriage and civil unions are not open to same-sex couples, as we saw in an article on the initiative launched to bring businesses together and put pressure on the government to legalize marriage equality. Here is another initiative I am sure you’re going to like.
A charity has launched a program called the Famiee Project to bring more LGBTQ rights in Japan.
I wish I had good news for LGBTQ rights, but I have a bad one, sadly.
Nepal is a country that is more advanced on LGBTQ rights than many US states or European countries.
In 2015, the constitution prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation after a landmark Supreme Court decision in 2008. The court also called for greater recognition of same-sex relationships.
Although South Koreans are gradually accepting the LGBTQ community thanks to growing representation in TV series and movies, the military has just sent a soldier home because of her transgender identity.
Bad news... The LGBTQ+ community in the Philippines has suffered a bitter defeat in its attempt to legalize equal marriage.
China is one of those countries where there is no law allowing same-sex couples to get married. But as China revises its civil laws, LGBTQ activists are pushing for the legalization of marriage equality.
The goal is simple: to show that this law would not only affect a dozen people but hundreds of thousands.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1991 in Hong Kong, an independent territory in southeast China. In June 2018, a new victory took place for our community as the Hong Kong High Court ruled in favor of a gay couple fighting for equal benefits. In July, the court ruled that foreign LGBTQ couples living in Hong Kong city who had legally married elsewhere were entitled to a spouse visa.
So we believed that victory was possible when MK, a lesbian woman, launched a challenge to get marriage equality.
Taiwan became Asia’s first country to legalize equal marriage on May 24, 2019. Last week’s Pride march was an opportunity to celebrate.
As you may have heard, China has been cracking down on the LGBTQ community. This is concerning for a number of reasons and we're going to break it all down in this post!
Thailand's LGBTQ community has been fighting for equal rights in the country. The topic of marriage equality was at the forefront of many people's minds, but after long discussions, it seems that things are not really moving forward as we would like them to move--at least anytime soon!
After years of waiting to finally see the rights of LGBTQ people advance in Japan, it looks as though that time is now.
Uncover the journey of how LGBTQ rights in China have developed, from legal protections to numerous rights defense activities. And explore what this progress means for Chinese LGBTQ+ community members.
