Out in the World: LGBTQ news from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East
JAPAN A coalition of 19 prefectures and more than 150 municipalities has created a Partnership System Municipal Cooperation Network, in which all member governments agree to recognize each other’s same-sex partnership registries.
The new system should help same-sex couples ensure their partnerships remain valid if they move or maintain multiple residences.
Because same-sex marriage is not currently legal in Japan, 30 of Japan’s 47 prefectures and more than 400 municipalities have established “partnership oath systems,” in which same-sex couple can register their relationships to help them access local services that are restricted to couples, such as housing, insurance, and medical decision-making.
However, these registries are not legally binding and confer no direct rights on the couples. Prior to the establishment of the PSMCN, couples who had registered in one municipality or prefecture could face difficulty having their relationship recognized in a different location.
