Japan’s LGBTQIA+ community is calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage prior to the G7 summit.
Image source – WION
Japan’s LGBTQIA+ community is demanding the legalization of same-sex marriage ahead of the G7 summit. However, growing support from the nation’s top business lobby and major companies is putting pressure on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government and his conservative ruling party to change that.
As per organiser estimates, around 10,000 people marched in Sunday’s Pride parade in Tokyo’s Shibuya district.
Same-sex marriage is currently not legal in Japan, although some local governments have introduced partnership systems that offer similar rights and benefits to married couples. However, these partnerships are not recognized nationwide, and same-sex couples do not have the same legal protections and benefits as heterosexual couples.
The petition highlights the discrimination and challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in Japan, including difficulties in accessing healthcare, education, and employment. The community hopes that legalizing same-sex marriage will help to promote equality and reduce discrimination.
The Japanese government has been criticized by human rights groups for its lack of progress on LGBTQIA+ rights. In 2019, the United Nations Human Rights Committee urged Japan to legalize same-sex marriage and protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ people. A district court in Japan’s Sapporo in March 2021 ruled the nation’s ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional. The Sapporo court argued that laws or regulations that deprive same-sex couples of the legal benefits of marriage are discriminatory and violate Article 14 of the Japanese Constitution. June 2022, another district court, this one in Osaka, upheld the constitutionality of the ban on same-sex marriage.
The G7 summit provides an opportunity for Japan to demonstrate its commitment to promoting equality and human rights, including those of the LGBTQIA+ community. Legalizing same-sex marriage would be a significant step towards achieving this goal.
Re-Reported from the story originally published in WION
