Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, May 12, 2006 Page: 21 of 80
eighty pages : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
JAPAN
Continued from Page 1
following year.
The advances — the result of long years of
work behind the scenes — have given Japan’s
sexual minorities rising self-confidence and a
greater willingness to come out of the closet
despite the country’s long-prized confonnity and
disdain for displays of individuality.
“These changes have been way overdue,”
Fujio said at a recent interview in Tokyo. “I think
the law got people thinking, ‘If the country has
recognized these people, they must be acceptable
after all.’”
Greater visibility and legal change are part of a
general trend in Japan toward more personal
freedom.
Technology and tradition have also played a
role. The Internet has spread information about
alternative lifestyles to people who in previous
generations would have been isolated.
Meanwhile, Japan’s lack of deeply-rooted moral
or religious censure of sexual minorities has
made the transition easier.
The rising visibility is a sharp turnaround for
those like Fujio, who grew up in an era in post-
war Japan where talk of transsexual lifestyles
was rare.
“The transsexual community had a great
dilemma. If we spoke out, we risked our jobs, our
livelihoods. But by staying silent, nothing would
change,” said Aya Kamikawa, Japan’s first and
only transsexual politician.
Since 2003, Kamikawa — a male to female
transgender — has played a key role in lobbying
for changes at both the national and local levels,
including the sex-change law. She has also suc-
cessfully lobbied to eliminate unnecessary men-
tions of gender in public documents.
Still, obstacles to full acceptance remain.
Under the 2004 law, for instance, only unmar-
ried, childless applicants can change their official
gender. Applicants also must have had a sex-
change operation and been diagnosed by two
doctors as having gender-identity disorder.
A mere 151 people in Japan officially changed
their sex between July 2004, when the law went
into force, and the end of March 2005, according
to the Justice Ministry. Fujio himself isn’t eligi-
ble to change his official sex because he has chil-
dren.
The stigma of transsexuality is also still high in
Japan. Transsexuals say they are reluctant to seek
work or even go to the dentist for fear their orig-
inal gender will be revealed by documents such
as health insurance cards.
Moreover, transsexuals experience even more
restrictions because some of them are also gay or
lesbian. Same-sex marriages are forbidden in
Japan, hospital visits by gay partners can be
blocked and it’s impossible for homosexual cou-
ples to jointly purchase a home or for a survivor
to inherit the assets of a gay partner.
“We have no legal protection or assurances
whatsoever, and that brings many worries,” said
Aki Nomiya, who was bom male but now lives
as a woman with a female partner, though she has
not had a full sex-change operation.
Japan first needs to allow for a partnership sys-
tem like that of France, whose 1999 Civil
Solidarity Pact gives some legal rights to unmar-
ried couples, Nomiya says.
Continued on Next Page
Amy Gragert, m a, leg
Psychotherapist
Now is the time
to feel better!
▼ Individuals
▼ Couples
▼ Group Therapy
▼ LPC Supervision
As heard on:
105.3 FM - Talk Radio
3100 Carlisle, Suite 109 • Near Turtle Creek Blvd.
Over 1 5 years experience
By Appointment
214/740-1600
North tlavon Gardens
Celebrate Mom!
• NHG Gift Cards our most popular gift!
• Blooming Garden Gift Baskets
• Hydrangeas, Japanese Maples,
Rose Plants & Orchids
• Colorful Gardening Aprons,
Gloves, Totes, Hats & Garden Art
20% OFF
NO
All 2 & 3 Gal. Rose Plants
in stock only. May 12-14,2006.
A.
orth Haven
gardens
7700 Northaven Rd. (Just West of 75)
Open Daily 214-363-5316 ^ ww.nhg.com
Leashed pets always welcome.
Le 5eau Visage
Medical Spa
W Helping You Look
^ & Feel Your Best
MEHCAIj fPA
.JVv
Our FREE consultation & skin
analysis with Dr. Riehs ensures you
receive the appropriate treatment
to achieve your new look
Botox®
Restylane®/Collagen
Laser Hair Removal
Microdermabrasion
Mesotherapy
Acne
I PL Laser Photo Facials
Glycolic Acid Treatments
Trichloroacetic Acid
(TCA) Peels
Teeth Whitening
Sclerotherapy
Skin Care Products:
Bellederm
MD Forte
Prevage 1%
Glo Minerals
Jason M. Riehs, M.D.
Founder I Full-time
On-site Physician
Preston Rd at Warren Pkwy
Next to 24 Hour Fitness
214-705-7676
lebeauvisagemedspa.com
05.12.06 I dallas voice I 21
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Vercher, Dennis. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, May 12, 2006, newspaper, May 12, 2006; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth238908/m1/21/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.