The Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies (ICAS) at Temple University, Japan Campus cordially invites you to the following evening lecture on Thursday June 20, 2019. All ICAS events are held in English, open to the public, and admission is free unless otherwise noted.



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- ICAS Event -

Marriage Equality in Asia & the Business Case for Equal Marriage <https://www.tuj.ac.jp/icas/event/marriage-equality-in-asia-the-business-case-for-equal-marriage/>

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Date & Time: Thursday, June 20, 2019 | 19:00 - 21:00 p.m. (doors open at 18:30 p.m.)


Venue: Temple University, Japan Campus <https://www.tuj.ac.jp/maps/tokyo.html>, Azabu Hall, 1F Parliament


Moderator: Kyle Cleveland, ICAS Associate Director


Admission: Free. Open to the public.


Language: English


RSVP: RSVP is encouraged but not required (icas@tuj.temple.edu <mailto:icas@tuj.temple.edu>).




Overview:


The first marriage equality law was passed in the Netherlands in 2000. Two decades later, as of May 2019, twenty seven jurisdictions extended the right to marry to lesbian and gay couples covering every continent, including Asia. This May, Taiwan becomes the first country in Asia with a same-sex marriage legislation (following New Zealand and Australia in the Asia-Pacific). In Japan, on Valentine's Day 2019, multiple law suits were filed seeking equal marriage rights.


There have been numerous empirical studies and arguments pro/con equal marriage. Equality has been achieved through adjudication, legislative processes and even referenda, primarily relying on legal and human rights concepts of equality, non-discrimination and fair treatment. In addition, businesses have become among the strongest supporters of equal treatment to LGBT, including marriage equality. Twenty seven major entities in Japan, including multiple chambers of commerce, law firms, legal organizations, corporations and service provides, have expressed their support of equal marriage by endorsing the ACCJ's Viewpoint on Marriage Equality.


Our panel will cover international developments, including Taiwanese equal marriage law, the Japanese lawsuit for marriage equality, and the Viewpoint's business case for equal marriage.



Speakers:


Makiko Terahara, Co-Representative, Marriage For All Japan <http://marriageforall.jp/en/>


Makiko Terahara is Co-Representative of Marriage For All Japan (2019-), Co-Representative of Tokyo Omotesando LPC (2010-), In-House Lawyer of Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd. (2008-2010), Qualified as Attorney in New York (2008), Graduated from LL.M of New York University (2007), Associate of domestic law firms (2000-2005), Qualified as Attorney in Japan (2000), Graduated from Tokyo University (1997).



Alexander Dmitrenko, Co-Representative Director, Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN) <http://llanjapan.org/en>


Alexander Dmitrenko is a Co-Representative Director and one of the co-founders of Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN). Alexander began his legal career in Canada, including working on same-sex marriage and other LGBT rights cases. Pursuant to receiving his Master of Laws degree from NYU, Alexander worked in New York and Tokyo. He is currently a Senior Associate in the Tokyo office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, focusing on regulatory and compliance matters. Alexander is qualified to practice law in the Russian Federation, New York State and England & Wales. He is also registered as a Gaikokuho-Jimu-Bengoshi with the Daini Tokyo Bar Association (as a NY attorney).


Naosuke Fujita, Co-Representative Director, Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN) <http://llanjapan.org/en>


Naosuke Fujita is a Co-Representative Director and one of the co-founders of Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN). Naosuke is a graduate of Waseda University Department of Law and University of Michigan Law School LLM. Following a career as a business lawyer at Japanese and US law firms, since March 2009, Naosuke is General Counsel for Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd. and an Ally of its LGBT Network. In June 2017 Naosuke was awarded by Financial Times the Most Innovative General Counsel Award in connection with activities related to LLAN.