In landmark ruling, Japan court says not allowing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
By Elaine Lies
Reuters
TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese court ruled on Wednesday that not allowing same-sex couples to marry is unconstitutional, setting a precedent in the only G7 nation not to fully recognise same-sex partnership.
The ruling by a district court, the first in Japan on the legality of same-sex marriages, is a major symbolic victory in a country where the constitution still defines marriage as being based on the mutual consent of both sexes .
While a new law will be needed before same-sex marriages can actually take place which could take some time in socially conservative Japan LGBT activists celebrated the ruling and said it had the potential to change their lives.
In Landmark Verdict, Japan Court Terms Not Allowing Same-Sex Marriage Unconstitutional
The ruling by a district court, the first in Japan on the legality of same-sex marriages, is a major symbolic victory.
Plaintiffs lawyers and supporters show a banner that reads Unconstitutional decision after a district court ruled on the legality of same-sex marriages outside Sapporo district court in Sapporo, Hokkaido, northern Japan March 17, 2021, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Photo: Kyodo/via Reuters
World17/Mar/2021
Tokyo: AÂ Japanese court ruled on Wednesday that not allowing same-sex couples to marry is “unconstitutional”, setting a precedent in the only G7 nation not to fully recognise same-sex partnership.
STR / JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images
A Japanese court ruled on Wednesday that the government s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, a landmark decision that supporters hope will pave the way for marriage equality in the only G-7 nation to not fully recognize same-sex partnerships.
Article 24 of Japan s constitution defines marriage as based on the mutual consent of both sexes, which is currently interpreted to mean it is legal only between a man and a woman.
But as The Associated Press reports, the Sapporo District Court found that banning same-sex marriages violates Article 14 of the Japanese constitution, which prohibits discrimination due to race, creed, sex, social status or family origin. It said that because sexual orientation is not a choice, it is discriminatory not to afford marital benefits to same-sex couples.
In Landmark Ruling, Court Says Japan’s Ban On Same-Sex Marriage Is Unconstitutional
By Rachel Treisman
March 17, 2021
A Japanese court ruled on Wednesday that the government’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, a landmark decision that supporters hope will pave the way for marriage equality in the only G-7 nation to not fully recognize same-sex partnerships.
Article 24 of Japan’s constitution defines marriage as based on the “mutual consent of both sexes,” which is currently interpreted to mean it is legal only between a man and a woman.
But as The Associated Press reports, the Sapporo District Court found that banning same-sex marriages violates Article 14 of the Japanese constitution, which prohibits discrimination due to “race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.” It said that because sexual orientation is not a choice, it is discriminatory not to afford marital benefits to same-sex couples.