Rights group urges Japan to update law on changing gender

@Bush, I suppose those children are glad that you are there to make those decisions for them?

The child may not be old enough to make the decision; but who else is qualified or entitled to make it? Isn't forcing an outside opinion on an individual also considered inhumane?

Dont follow the west. Its a mess. Protect the children.

Mat- that’s what parents are for.

Some U.S. States are controlled by radicals and their ideas are often far from mainstream or moral.

Gay marriage is one thing. But allowing men to use girls restrooms and participate against girls in sports just because they “identify” with girls is assinine.

Sexual diversity?? Um there oblivious only two kinds and that is a make with testosterone or a female with breast and estrogen. Sex change not included

"Tokyo officials should embrace public opinion and local-level policies and update the law to reflect current medical and legal perspectives,” Kanae Doi

I think if public opinion was taken into account, the Human Rights Watch group would be a bit disappointed.

Most would agree on some form of formal status of partnerships needing to be made and some protections (housing and medical treatments) in extreme cases.

Also most would say employment protections would be difficult as company leaders would argue their company culture supports Japan economically and to mandate change upsets that ability to support Japan.

As for the processes of legally being recognized as a different sex, I don't see most people taking a hard stance one way or the other on this given Japanese attitudes about self identification, inclusion and the minority population that trans people represent in their country.

As far as foreigners are concerned with their foreign protections being recognized in Japan, it's an absolute non starter as most Japanese people do not feel they should be burdened with "foreign difficulties" adapting to Japan as highlighted by the following:

"[ The law ] is designed to force transgender people into the existing legal system rather than ensuring them to live according to their own gender identity.” Hiroyuki Taniguchi.

The amount of regressive attitudes here is pretty staggering, but I suppose that just means we run the gamut of beliefs here.

I think most people should be able to agree that forced sterilization and a psych eval are incredibly intrusive, dehumanizing, and an affront to basic human rights that needs to be addressed even if you don't support trans rights. What if it were proposed that anyone identifying as a conservative would need a psych eval first before they could register? Does that seem nearly as benign to you? Honestly it would still make more sense to do that, since at least that one is a choice.

This isn't even a particularly extreme ask, they aren't even asking for widespread acceptance, just to stop treating them worse than sexual predators are treated.

While they are debating everything else they should at least remove the sterilization requirement.

But of course the proponents of change probably want all the proposed changes to be discussed and decided on collectively

The required surgery forces transgender people to undergo “lengthy, invasive and irreversible medical procedures" to get legally recognized.......the law is “designed to force transgender people into the existing legal system rather than ensuring them to live according to their own gender identity.”

Human Rights Watch's viewpoint is problematic.

They are complaining about and claiming that society is legally forcing them to undergo medical transitioning, which is a purely voluntary procedure....yet they don't see a problem with legally forcing members of society to recognize their claimed gender even if we don't agree, forcing us to use their chosen pronouns under threat of fines and jail, forcing us to allow biological males into female spaces and sports and forcing parents to agree to their children medically transitioning under the threat of jail, like the poor man in Canada. This doesn't sound right.

They are complaining about and claiming that society is legally forcing them to undergo medical transitioning, which is a purely voluntary procedure....yet they don't see a problem with legally forcing members of society to recognize their claimed gender even if we don't agree

You don't have the right to disagree with someone else's gender, any more than if someone said, "Hi, my name is Jim", you said, "No, you look like a Rupert. Your name is Rupert. Your biological name is Rupert, and you cannot say that it's Jim."

Happy DayToday 08:50 am JST

Mat- that’s what parents are for.

Some U.S. States are controlled by radicals and their ideas are often far from mainstream or moral.

Gay marriage is one thing. But allowing men to use girls restrooms and participate against girls in sports just because they “identify” with girls is assinine.

They aren't men.

They are transwomen.

Concerned CitizenToday 05:37 pm JS

Human Rights Watch's viewpoint is problematic.

They are complaining about and claiming that society is legally forcing them to undergo medical transitioning, which is a purely voluntary procedure...

That it is voluntary isn't the issue . In order to change their gender on their family register, legally marry, have children, and live like a normal person, they have to undergo a very invasive surgery. How would you feel if you were told you had to get your gentials changed in order to get married? Would you say "Oh hey, yah this is totally voluntary, so NP."

...yet they don't see a problem with legally forcing members of society to recognize their claimed gender even if we don't agree, forcing us to use their chosen pronouns under threat of fines and jail,

No, I don't see a problem with it. For one thing, it's not "claimed" gender - it's just their gender. For another, the reason for fines and jail time is for harassment. Purposefully misgendering someone is akin to using the N word when talking to a person of color, which by the way, is also illegal in many places and has fines and jail time as penalties.

forcing us to allow biological males into female spaces

They are transwomen - not men. They belong in women's spaces.

and sports

Why shouldn't they be able to play sports like everyone else? Why are you in favor of restricting human rights?

and forcing parents to agree to their children medically transitioning under the threat of jail, like the poor man in Canada. This doesn't sound right.

He shouldn't have withheld necessary medical care for his son. It's no different from any parent who refuses to provide their child with any needed medical procedure.

Change all the genders you want, your sex is stil going be established by XY and XX and you only get a free pass if you have an extra chromosome.

am a rapist, and I want access to women, so I claim I am a woman. Surgical castration 'removes' this danger.

it happened

https://www.dailywire.com/news/5-times-transgender-men-abused-women-and-children-amanda-prestigiacomo

60 Minutes did a piece on someone who regretted transitioning and GLAAD called it "fearmongering". They threw her under the bus.

You can all write to the author of the article and express your opinions.

@mariyamaguchi

They are transwomen - not men. They belong in women's spaces.

Is that not trying to cram non-binary classifications into binary spaces. It seems a little contradictory. Do transwomen not belong in transwomen's spaces?

We should probably consider why we have "women's spaces" in the first place. Is it not largely out of concerns for women\s safety and comfort? If so, and if most women would prefer that transwomen stay out their space, then I think transwomen have to accept that. I know it's not a clearcut issue. Generally, I'm fine with anyone identifying as they wish, but I don't think it gives a free pass to go where they wish.

I don't know every detail about trans issues or their lives, but forced sterilization!? That is just barbaric. I feel sad for anyone who had to undergo that. Having a kid is one of life's greatest (and most expensive lol) joys.

From many of the comments, I see that being trans is VERY difficult for "normal" straight people to understand.

albaleoMay 26 11:11 pm JST

Is that not trying to cram non-binary classifications into binary spaces. It seems a little contradictory. Do transwomen not belong in transwomen's spaces?

We should probably consider why we have "women's spaces" in the first place. Is it not largely out of concerns for women\s safety and comfort? If so, and if most women would prefer that transwomen stay out their space, then I think transwomen have to accept that. I know it's not a clearcut issue. Generally, I'm fine with anyone identifying as they wish, but I don't think it gives a free pass to go where they wish.

The discomfort is based on ignorance, prejudice, and bigotry, and these things should not be indulged.

And the fact is, there have been queer, non-binary, lesbian, and trans women in cisgender womens' spaces since forever - and no one complained about until transpeople began to get recognition. Now suddenly these people are "uncomfortable" with people who have been here all along, whom they never even really paid any notice to before?

I don't buy it, and I don't accept that one demographic gets to decide whether another gets to participate fully in society.

gaicuckojinMay 26 06:48 pm JST

Change all the genders you want, your sex is stil going be established by XY and XX and you only get a free pass if you have an extra chromosome.

Sex and gender are not the same thing.

And no, that is not how sex is determined.

I suggest you read up on this issue.

am a rapist, and I want access to women, so I claim I am a woman. Surgical castration 'removes' this danger.

it happened

https://www.dailywire.com/news/5-times-transgender-men-abused-women-and-children-amanda-prestigiacomo

If your concern is that men will pretend to be transwomen in order to rape and molest women, then your fear is about predatory MEN, not transpeople.

Would you like me to post links to all the recent articles about straight cis men who have raped, sexually assaulted, and abused women? There will be too many to count.

It's YOUR gender that that's the problematic one when it comes to the abuse of women.

From many of the comments, I see that being trans is VERY difficult for "normal" straight people to understand.

this is true, deviations are tolerated not celebrated.

unless you have mental illness ( body dysphoria ) we’ll get you help ; )

girl_in_tokyo proving once again that she is one of the few good posters on this website.

This comment section is utterly depressing. I wonder how many commenters have even met any of the people you seem have such a problem with. Chances are pretty high that you have as intersex people are estimated to make up about 1% of the population.

The fact is that their existence has been researched for decades in various fields. Whether you think or believe that these are just somebody's feelings is irrelevant at this point. People who oppose the emancipation of marginalised groups always find themselves on the wrong side of history.