It seems Mickey Mouse is following in the footsteps of President Obama.
Thanks to the efforts of LGBT rights activist and soon-to-be bride Koyuki Higashi, 27, same-sex couples can now marry at Tokyo’s version of the Happiest Place on Earth.
Disney has allowed gay couples to marry in their Fairy Tale Weddings Program in the United States since 2007, but when Higashi inquired about holding a lesbian wedding at the Japan location, she was told that the couple would have to dress like a heterosexual couple—one in a dress, one in a suit.
Koyuki Higashi celebrating with her girlifrend and Mickey.
Instead of taking that as an answer, she swiftly took to Twitter to spread the disappointing news. After contacting the American Disney offices for clarification of its gay wedding policy, the company reversed its decision within a week, inviting all types of couples to marry at their resort (though same-sex marriage is still not legally recognized in Japan).
“Even though same-sex marriages are not legally permitted, we reached the decision that wedding ceremonies can take place,” said an official with the resort’s public relations department, adding that female couples will be free to have their ceremonies wearing wedding dresses, while male partners can both wear tuxedoes. But she added gay and lesbian couples were not allowed to exchange marriage vows at the onsite chapel “because of Christian teaching.”
Afterwards, Higashi and her bride-to-be visited Tokyo Disneyland, where they met Mickey Mouse to give him the good news.
“Mickey first looked surprised to hear that we are a ‘couple of girls’,” Higashi wrote on her blog. “But we said we were there to thank him because same-sex weddings can be held at the Disney Resort, and he celebrated with us.”
Photo: koyuki-higashi.tumblr.com/
