Tokyo ward to offer benefits to same-sex partners of fallen disaster responders June 1 スーパーコピー  2023 (Mainichi Japan) Japanese version The Setagaya Ward office first building. (Mainichi/Kento Hayakawa) TOKYO -- Bereavement benefits will soon be offered for same-sex partners of those who pass away during emergency response activities, Tokyo's Setagaya Ward announced on May 31. Under the new system to take effect on July 1 コピーブランド服  same-sex partners of the deceased will receive lump-sum death benefits from the Setagaya Ward government. The move is aimed to eliminate discrimination in the current system, under which same-sex partners do not qualify for the benefits. According to the ward, the inclusion of same-sex partners for benefits like these is rare among Japan's municipalities. The benefits will apply to local residents who are requested by the ward to join emergency response activities, such as piling up sandbags to mitigate damage from flooding rivers, as well as engaging in first aid in natural disasters. In the event of death due to the disaster while performing these duties, the ward will compensate the partner of the deceased according to their income, granting a one-time payment of between 8.9 million yen and 14 million yen (roughly from $64,000 to $100,000). Under the current system based on the Basic Act on Disaster Management and the Flood Prevention Act ブランドコピーバッグ  benefits are guaranteed only to married spouses (including common-law) and their children. There had been opinions among Setagaya ward assembly members that the exclusion of same-sex partners is "irrational and discriminatory," and the ward government decided to include same-sex couples so that they'd be treated the same as straight couples. The amount of benefits given under the new system will remain unchanged. Setagaya Ward has been actively taking steps to eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples. In 2015, the ward led the nation as the first municipality to officially recognize same-sex partnerships. In 2018, an ordinance aiming to uphold human rights while recognizing diversity came into effect. In a press conference, Setagaya Mayor Nobuto Hosaka said 時計コピー  "While the new system may not apply to very many people, the lack of a system (for same-sex couples to receive benefits) was not right. After this, if there are any other programs which leave out same-sex partners, we want to deal with them one by one." (Japanese original by Yusuke Kato スーパーコピーバッグ  Tokyo City News Department) Font Size SML Print Go to The Mainichi Home Page Related Articles Marathon in Tokyo to create category for nonbinary entrants in Japan 1st Tokyo's Setagaya Ward to offer condolence money to same-sex partners of disaster victims