The case is one of several brought against the government by same-sex couples in a campaign demanding the right to get married, and the first to reach a verdict.
Supporters celebrate the district court's ruling on Japan's same-sex marriage ban with a flag reading 'unconstitutional decision' in Sapporo, Hokkaido prefecture, on Wednesday.Ī 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.Īrticle 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.īut 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.Īsia Same-Sex Couples Sue For The Right To Marry In Japan
