KYODO NEWS - Feb 15, 2018 - 20:35 | Lifestyle, All

A local bar association said Wednesday that its "LGBT policy" toward the creation of a respectful environment for sexual minorities calls for removing unnecessary sex-identity questions in registration forms.

The Chiba Bar Association said it came up with the guidelines, the first of its kind specialized in LGBT, following exchanges with groups of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

In the guidelines, the association said it will remove gender boxes in forms that visitors are asked to fill out during consultation and other events, if deemed unnecessary. It will also make all-gender restrooms more accessible for LGBT people.

"It's an issue of basic human rights, but we're not making enough efforts. We will promote the idea (upheld in the policy)," said Satoshi Oikawa, who heads the association, based in Chiba Prefecture, southeast of Tokyo.

The association also plans to beef up counseling services for LGBT people and will enable them to use their preferred name rather than given name.

The guidelines will be posted on the association's website. The association plans to offer a hotline service for LGBT people next month.