Japan's Supreme Court Strikes Down Bathroom Restriction for Transgender Government Employee

Japan's Supreme Court has ruled against a government agency that had prohibited a transgender employee from using the women's bathroom. This landmark decision marks the top court's first ruling on the rights of sexual minorities in the workplace. The plaintiff, an employee at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, had requested permission to use the women's bathroom but was only granted access to a bathroom two floors away. After a legal battle, the Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of the employee, ordering the government to pay damages. However, the Tokyo High Court later overturned the decision, leading the plaintiff to take the case to the Supreme Court. The ruling highlights ongoing discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in Japan, where conservative views persist and legal protections for same-sex unions are lacking.