In a landmark verdict, the Japanese Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 11) ruled in favour of a transgender woman, saying restrictions put on using women’s toilets at her workplace were “unacceptable”.

<h2>What was the case about?</h2>

The case was filed by a woman in her 50s, who cannot be named for privacy reasons, against her employer, the Ministry of Economy and Trade. The official who was assigned male at birth, sued the government after she was told to use women’s toilets two floors below her office, as opposed to the ones closer to her.&nbsp;

A Tokyo District Court, in 2019, ruled in favour of the employee and called the restrictions unlawful. However, the decision was reversed in 2021 by the Tokyo High Court.&nbsp;

The plaintiff said that being barred from using the female toilets near her “deeply hurt” her and violated the country’s law which protects state employees against loss or damage in the workplace.

The woman was diagnosed with gender dysphoria around 1999 when she was already a government employee. However, it was not until a decade later that she told her supervisor she wished to dress and work as a woman, and her request was approved.

<h2>The arguments</h2>

The government officials argued how their move was justified and cited a lack of “public understanding” toward transgender people for using the facilities of their declared gender.

However, the plaintiff’s team argued that no female employee had raised any concerns about sharing the toilet. It is also worth noting that the plaintiff has not changed her legal gender, but otherwise lives as a woman.&nbsp;

In Japan, transgender people can only legally change their gender if they have undergone gender reassignment surgery, while the current law effectively requires them to be surgically sterilised. The plaintiff told the court that she was unable to undergo the procedure due to health reasons.&nbsp;

<h2>Japan’s Supreme Court ruling considered landmark for LGBTQ+ rights</h2>

The verdict of this case was the first one that the Japanese top court delivered on the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and experts say that this could change how public and private sectors deal with sensitive questions on women-only spaces.

The decision has been seen as a step forward for the country’s LGBTQ+ community and their rights as Tokyo is the only G7 nation which does not provide legal protection for same-sex unions.&nbsp;

In its ruling, the court found the decision to restrict the transgender woman from using nearby toilets was “extremely lacking in validity”. It added that the move “overly accommodated other employees and unjustly disregarded how the plaintiff might be disadvantaged.”&nbsp;

“We will carefully examine the ruling and take appropriate measures after consulting with the relevant ministries and agencies,” said the ministry, after the verdict, in a statement. It added that it will make efforts to respect the diversity of its staff.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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In a landmark verdict, the Japanese Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 11) ruled in favour of a transgender woman, saying restrictions put on using women’s toilets at her workplace were “unacceptable”.

In a landmark verdict, the Japanese Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 11) ruled in favour of a transgender woman, saying restrictions put on using women’s toilets at her workplace were “unacceptable”. What was the case about? The case was filed by a woman in her 50s, who cannot be named for privacy reasons, against her employer, the Ministry of Economy and Trade. The official who was assigned male at birth, sued the government after she was told to use women’s toilets two floors below her office, as opposed to the ones closer to her. A Tokyo District Court, in 2019, ruled in favour of the employee and called the restrictions unlawful. However, the decision was reversed in 2021 by the Tokyo High Court. The plaintiff said that being barred from using the female toilets near her “deeply hurt” her and violated the country’s law which protects state employees against loss or damage in the workplace. The woman was diagnosed with gender dysphoria around 1999 when she was already a government employee. However, it was not until a decade later that she told her supervisor she wished to dress and work as a woman, and her request was approved. The arguments The government officials argued how their move was justified and cited a lack of “public understanding” toward transgender people for using the facilities of their declared gender. However, the plaintiff’s team argued that no female employee had raised any concerns about sharing the toilet. It is also worth noting that the plaintiff has not changed her legal gender, but otherwise lives as a woman. In Japan, transgender people can only legally change their gender if they have undergone gender reassignment surgery, while the current law effectively requires them to be surgically sterilised. The plaintiff told the court that she was unable to undergo the procedure due to health reasons. Japan’s Supreme Court ruling considered landmark for LGBTQ+ rights The verdict of this case was the first one that the Japanese top court delivered on the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and experts say that this could change how public and private sectors deal with sensitive questions on women-only spaces. The decision has been seen as a step forward for the country’s LGBTQ+ community and their rights as Tokyo is the only G7 nation which does not provide legal protection for same-sex unions. In its ruling, the court found the decision to restrict the transgender woman from using nearby toilets was “extremely lacking in validity”. It added that the move “overly accommodated other employees and unjustly disregarded how the plaintiff might be disadvantaged.” “We will carefully examine the ruling and take appropriate measures after consulting with the relevant ministries and agencies,” said the ministry, after the verdict, in a statement. It added that it will make efforts to respect the diversity of its staff. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan’s top court backs transgender woman in bathroom case, says restriction ‘unacceptable’

North Carolina&#39;s Senate on Thursday approved a bill to retool a law banning transgender people from using restrooms in accordance with their gender identities, a measure that had triggered boycotts by companies and sports leagues.

However, the measure was roundly criticized by civil rights advocates, and it was not immediately clear if businesses and the sports leagues would reverse their boycotts of the Southern state.

Late on Wednesday, leaders of the Republican-dominated state Senate and House of Representatives said that they had reached a compromise with Democratic Governor Roy Cooper to scrap the year-old law, the only one of its kind in the United States.

The announcement came days after the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) said it would not award the state potentially lucrative hosting honors for its championship events through 2022 unless there were changes to the law.

On Thursday morning, after a brief floor debate, the state Senate on second reading approved 32-16 the measure that would repeal the law known as House Bill 2, popularly known as HB2. However, new provisions in the legislation would still ban local municipalities, public schools and others from regulating bathroom access.

The deal also blocks North Carolina cities for nearly four years from enacting their own regulations for job and restroom protections to groups classified as vulnerable.

The measure next moves to the state House for a vote. If the lower chamber approves it, it will go to Cooper, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

Advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people said the new version would allow discrimination to continue.

&ldquo;Lawmakers must reject this disgraceful backroom deal that uses the rights of LGBT people as a bargaining chip,&rdquo; said Sarah Gillooly, policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina.

The NCAA did not immediately comment.

In the debate on the Senate floor, two senators spoke in favor of the compromise, while another, Republican state Senator Dan Bishop, voiced strong opposition.

Bishop said that the bill, at best, delayed action. &quot;At worst, it is a betrayal of principle&quot;.

(Reuters)

Last year, the state senate forced people to use bathrooms in accordance with the gender on their birth certificate

North Carolina's Senate on Thursday approved a bill to retool a law banning transgender people from using restrooms in accordance with their gender identities, a measure that had triggered boycotts by companies and sports leagues. However, the measure was roundly criticized by civil rights advocates, and it was not immediately clear if businesses and the sports leagues would reverse their boycotts of the Southern state. Late on Wednesday, leaders of the Republican-dominated state Senate and House of Representatives said that they had reached a compromise with Democratic Governor Roy Cooper to scrap the year-old law, the only one of its kind in the United States. The announcement came days after the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) said it would not award the state potentially lucrative hosting honors for its championship events through 2022 unless there were changes to the law. On Thursday morning, after a brief floor debate, the state Senate on second reading approved 32-16 the measure that would repeal the law known as House Bill 2, popularly known as HB2. However, new provisions in the legislation would still ban local municipalities, public schools and others from regulating bathroom access. The deal also blocks North Carolina cities for nearly four years from enacting their own regulations for job and restroom protections to groups classified as vulnerable. The measure next moves to the state House for a vote. If the lower chamber approves it, it will go to Cooper, who is expected to sign the bill into law. Advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people said the new version would allow discrimination to continue. “Lawmakers must reject this disgraceful backroom deal that uses the rights of LGBT people as a bargaining chip,” said Sarah Gillooly, policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina. The NCAA did not immediately comment. In the debate on the Senate floor, two senators spoke in favor of the compromise, while another, Republican state Senator Dan Bishop, voiced strong opposition. Bishop said that the bill, at best, delayed action. "At worst, it is a betrayal of principle". (Reuters)

North Carolina retools controversial transgender bathroom bill

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