Japanese Supreme Court Upholds Transgender Rights, Rejects Forced Organ Removal

Japan's Supreme Court has ruled that a law requiring transgender individuals to undergo reproductive organ removal in order to officially change their gender is unconstitutional. The law, which has long been criticized by international rights and medical groups, required transgender people to be diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder and undergo surgery to change their biologically-assigned gender on official documents. The court's decision now requires the government to revise the law, allowing transgender individuals to change their gender on official documents without surgery. This ruling marks a significant step forward for transgender rights in Japan, a country that has been slow to accept sexual and family diversity.