Japan's Supreme Court issued a landmark verdict on Wednesday, declaring a law that mandates sterilization surgery for transgender individuals to officially change their gender as unconstitutional. The ruling, which applies solely to the sterilization component of the 2003 law, marks a significant step in the recognition of LGBTQ+ rights and has been welcomed by advocates, according to the Associated Press. 

According to the report, the law in question compels individuals seeking to change their gender to make a "cruel choice" between undergoing sterilization surgery, which causes intense physical intrusion, and forgoing significant legal benefits associated with their gender identity, as stated by the Supreme Court. Notably, this decision does not address the constitutionality of the broader requirement for gender-transition surgery to obtain an officially sanctioned gender change, a condition that has also faced criticism from international rights and medical organizations.