Japan prefecture to recognize partnerships for LGBT couples from July

Ibaraki Prefecture near Tokyo said Monday it would start issuing partnership certificates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples from July 1.Smaller municipalities have launched similar systems for recognizing partnerships of sexual minorities since Tokyo's Shibuya and Setagaya wards started them in 2015, but Ibaraki will be the first among Japan's 47 prefectures to do so."This is a matter of human rights, and we must work swiftly in order to eliminate discrimination and prejudices," said Ibaraki Gov. Kazuhiko Oigawa at a press conference.To be recognized, applicants must both b…READ FULL ARTICLE