Japanese High Court Rules Ban On Same-Sex Marriage Is Unconstitutional
Image: Marriage For All Facebook
For the first time, a Japanese High Court has ruled that the country鈥檚 ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.聽
鈥楢n Inalienable Right鈥�
On March 14, the Sapporo High Court found that “living in accordance with one’s gender identity and sexual orientation is an inalienable right rooted in important person interests.”
In a report by ABC, Sapporo High Court Judge Kiyofumi Saito said, “Disallowing marriage to same-sex couples is a discrimination that lacks rationality 鈥� allowing same-sex marriage creates no disadvantage or harm to anyone.鈥�
The High Court does not have the power to reverse Japan鈥檚 ban on same-sex marriage. The Court, however, called on Parliament to 鈥渋nstitutionalise an appropriate same-sex marriage law.鈥�
鈥楢 Significant Step Towards Achieving Marriage Equality In Japan鈥�
In a statement, Amnesty International鈥檚 East Asia Researcher Boram Jang explained the decision, saying, 鈥淭he court decisions today mark a significant step towards achieving marriage equality in Japan. The ruling in Sapporo, the first High Court decision on same-sex marriage in the country, emphatically shows the trend towards acceptance of same-sex marriage in Japan.
Jang continued, 鈥淏y recognizing that the government鈥檚 ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, these rulings make clear that such discrimination has no place in Japanese society.鈥�
Jang called on the Japanese government to 鈥渂e proactive in moving towards the legalisation of same-sex marriage so that couples can fully enjoy the same marriage rights as their heterosexual counterparts.鈥�
70 Percent Support For Same-Sex Marriage
The Tokyo District Court also made a similar rulling on March 14, becoming the sixth district to do so.
According to the Australian Institute of International Affairs, recent polls show over 70 percent support for same-sex marriage.
Japan is the only country in the G7 that does not allow same-sex marriage.
You May Also Like
