WASHINGTON — The pronoun "they," used by non-binary people who identify as neither male nor female, was named word of the year by US dictionary Merriam-Webster on Tuesday.
In the English language, more and more people are exercising their right to choose the pronoun by which they are identified, regardless of their sex at birth -- such as "they" instead of "she" or "he."
Two months ago, the dictionary added the word "they" as a non-binary pronoun that can refer to just 1 person.
"There's no doubt that its use is established in the English language, which is why it was added to the Merriam-Webster.com dictionary this past September," the website said, adding that searches for "they" jumped 313 percent in a year.
Nonbinary people are enjoying increased representation on television and in pop culture. Among them is British artist Sam Smith, who recently revealed a preference for "they/them" pronouns "after a lifetime of being at war with my gender."
Tech giant Apple has added "neutral" emojis that don't distinguish between gender to the latest version of its operating system.
Agence France-Presse
MEXICO CITY - Accompanied only by 5 unarmed aides and a small collection of amulets, Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador makes police and flight attendants alike tremble when he embarks on air travel, always in economy class.
Lopez Obrador, known by his initials AMLO, stops for photos with everyone, allowing them to kiss, hug or even grab him by the waist.
"Of course, whatever photos you like," said the smiling president to a woman trying to snatch a photo with her smart phone as he walked to the plane ahead of a trip to Sinaloa, the dangerous drug-trafficking state made famous by narcotics kingpin Joaquim "El Chapo" Guzman.
AMLO's acquiescence sparked a near stampede as others swirled around the president looking for their own memento.
All the while, there was no security to push back the throngs.
Mexico's leftist leader has done away with the thousands of military escorts looking after the president and sent them to work "for the benefit of the people."
The presidential jet, a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 bought for $218 million is now on sale in California. AMLO traveled to Sinaloa on a cramped Embraer Jet.
"How can I board this plane when there's so much poverty in Mexico," AMLO had said about the Boeing Dreamliner.
Now he travels with a small retinue of aides headed by Daniel Asaf, a restauranter of Lebanese origin and former candidate for Mexico City's legislature.
'THE WORST'
In fact, none of AMLO's aides are security specialists, instead they are defined by their "loyalty."
Three women and 2 men spent most of the trip to Sinaloa shoving back reporters and asking travelers to move away after taking a selfie.
The security services may be in a fluster but AMLO is the most popular president in the country's history with an 80 percent approval rating, according to the last Mitofsky poll.
Part of that popularity came from his campaign promises to reduce his own salary and those of the government's top officials.
However, Mexico City's airport police are less impressed with AMLO's humble availability.
"When he has to cross the entire airport, it's the worst," said an airport police officer who wished to remain anonymous.
"People pounce on him. If one day someone wants to do something to him we won't be able to stop them because he doesn't like being guarded.
"He can't continue like this, he has to use the VIP room."
On this journey, AMLO was heading to one of a part of Mexico infested with drug traffickers and violent gangs. But he has no fear of being attacked, believing himself protected by an assortment of talismans.
"I have a lot of protection, this is a shield," he told AFP, holding up an image of the "Sacred Heart" of Jesus.
Among his other protective amulets, AMLO carries a 4 leaf clover and a dollar given to him by a Mexican migrant.
'IT'S AWFUL'
For some passengers, having the president on their flight gives them a feeling of security.
Carmen Diaz, a 52-year-old housewife traveling to Sinaloa for a party, said she would have "never expected" to find herself on a flight with the president.
Although she worried it would be unsafe due to the number of people aboard, "it's the opposite because they're watching the flight closer."
But for air stewardess Alejandra Martinez, the flight is a headache.
"It's awful that he's come on my flight. People are ignoring the (safety) instructions, they're leaving their seats even during turbulence and the press don't understand that their cameras could become projectiles if something unexpected happens," she said.
"I hope he never travels with my family."
Upon landing at the Culiacan airport in Sinaloa, AMLO was met by throngs of supporters and angry widows of police officers killed in the fight against drug traffickers.
After all the commotion of his humble journey, AMLO had no time for the waiting masses, and was whisked away by the local governor's security detail.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
TOKYO - Chizuka Oe and Yoko Ogawa have been together for 25 years, but when they submitted their marriage registration at a Tokyo town hall, they knew it would be rejected.
"We were told that they cannot accept our registration because we are both women," said Ogawa, standing in the winter sun outside the building in Nakano in western Tokyo.
"There were several heterosexual couples next to us who submitted marriage registrations without any problem," she added.
The couple is now planning to take action: Along with 12 other same-sex couples, they will file lawsuits on Valentine's Day seeking to force the government to recognize gay marriage.
"Why don't we even have the simple choice of whether or not to get married?" asked Ogawa, who said she and Oe were forced to wait a long time before ultimately being turned down.
The 5 lesbian and 8 gay couples involved will file lawsuits across the country seeking damages of one million yen ($9000) a person for being denied the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.
Japan's constitution stipulates that "marriage shall be only with the mutual consent of both sexes" and the government says this means same-sex marriage is "not foreseen" in the constitution or civil law.
But lawyers for the plaintiffs and other legal experts counter that there is nothing in the constitution that would prohibit same-sex marriage.
They argue the language of the 1947 post-war constitution is only meant to ensure equality between prospective spouses and prevent forced marriages.
The government's failure to enact a law allowing same-sex marriage violates the constitutional principle that "all people are equal under the law," said Akiyoshi Miwa, who is representing some of the plaintiffs.
'AGONIZING' SITUATIONS
A survey in January found nearly 80 percent of Japanese aged 20 to 59 support legalizing gay marriage.
Japan is the only nation from the Group of Seven countries that does not recognize same-sex unions.
Historically, Japan was broadly tolerant of homosexuality, with documented cases of samurai warriors during feudal times having male lovers.
Same-sex relationships were even depicted in traditional art, such as ukiyoe, or wood block prints.
But as Japan industrialized and modernized from the late 19th century, Western prejudices against homosexuality were increasingly adopted.
Last year, the ruling party came under fire after one of its lawmakers claimed the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community was "unproductive" because they "cannot have children."
And Oe and Ogawa say they have struggled with confusion and prejudice stemming in part from Japan's lack of marriage equality.
When the couple attended the funeral for Ogawa's mother, relatives treated Oe with suspicion, particularly when she handled condolence money.
Ogawa said many relatives quizzed her on who Oe was.
She explained: "I was tired, sad, and in such an extreme situation it was agonising to explain that we are a lesbian couple, that we are the same as a regular heterosexual couple."
"If there was a legal system of same-sex marriage, it would have been easier," she added.
'A KEY GOAL'
In a landmark advance in 2015, Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district started issuing symbolic "partnership" certificates to same-sex couples.
Some other local governments -- including in the area where Oe and Ogawa live -- have followed suit, and corporate Japan is also showing signs of moving toward recognizing same-sex couples.
The certificate confers some rights: when Oe was hospitalized last year and needed a family member's signature, Ogawa was able to sign.
But not all gay couples in Japan live in areas with such certificates, meaning they can be prevented from visiting loved ones in hospitals or refused tenancy because their relationship is not legally recognized.
And the certificates "fail to give various legal rights and benefits that a marriage gives, such as inheritance and joint custody," said Takako Uesugi, another lawyer for the plaintiffs.
Only one partner in a same-sex couple is considered the legal parent of any children they share because gay marriages are not recognized so joint custody is considered impossible.
And a foreigner in a same-sex relationship with a Japanese partner cannot apply for spousal visas like their counterparts in heterosexual marriages.
The Valentine's Day lawsuits will seek damages, but the couples and their lawyers say they are ultimately hoping to force a change in the law.
"What we really want is a court ruling that says the failure to recognize same-sex marriage is unconstitutional," said Miwa.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
SEOUL - Led by a huge rainbow flag, tens of thousands of gay rights supporters paraded through Seoul's city center Saturday as conservatives protested loudly at what they called "obscenity".
The parade, estimated to be some 30,000 strong, made its way through the South Korean capital with participants dancing on open truck beds decorated with slogans and waving the rainbow flag of gay rights.
In recent years extreme conservatives and evangelist Christians have held rival rallies in attempts to block the progress of the annual march and put on their own performances to try and disrupt the festivities.
Fences were set up around the Seoul Square outside the City Hall Saturday and hundreds of police were deployed to keep the revellers and protesters apart.
Hundreds of Christians, waving flags with Christian crosses printed on them and thumping on drums, chanted anti-gay slogans and sang patriotic and evangelical songs.
Public tolerance towards sexual minorities in South Korea's tradition-bound society has been growing in step with the country's democratic development.
Homosexuality is not illegal but fears of discrimination and social isolation still prevent many people from coming out.
"I think the public attitude toward homosexuality has become much more receptive over the past few years", said a parade participant who identified himself as Psygay as he handed out leaflets promoting the country's gay rights movement.
"However, hate groups' animosity toward LGBT people has intensified all the more", he told AFP.
When he came out three years earlier, his mother and the only brother were shocked and saddened.
"After a while, my mother said she understood me as I am her son anyhow. But my brother still urges me to change", he said.
"My father? Oh, he still doesn't know", said Psygay.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
