A Japanese high court ruled that it was “unconstitutional” not to allow same-sex marriage in the country, in a first appeal court ruling on the matter, Japanese media reported on Thursday.
Sapporo High Court in northern Japan issued the ruling, while dismissing the plaintiffs’ claim for damage to the national government, according to media reports.
Homosexuality has been legal in Japan since 1880, and the country is relatively liberal compared to some other Asian nations. Only one place in Asia has legalised same-sex marriage – Taiwan.
In 2015, Tokyo passed an ordinance allowing same-sex couples to obtain “partnership certificates,” giving them some of the same rights as married heterosexual couples. Since then, dozens of municipalities have passed ordinances unofficially recognising same-sex relationships. But activists say Japan’s LGBT community still faces prejudice and the country has yet to pass a national anti-discrimination law that protects LGBT people.
