Japan upholds its stance on same-sex marriages

Japan upholds its stance on same-sex marriages

Same sex marriages remains unrecognised in Japan.

The Osaka District Court of Japan recently upheld its ban on same-sex marriages. The Court ruled that the Country's ban on same-sex marriages is not unconstitutional.

The present issue arose when three same-sex couples approached the courts for a compensation of 1 million per person, arguing the lack of recognition of same-sex marriages violated their constitutional rights.

However, the Court opined in favor of the Government and held that under the Constitution the definition of marriage does not include a partnership between same-sex people.

The present judgment came in as a contrast to the decision by the Sapporo District Court in March 2021, which held that the Government's failure to recognise same-sex marriages is unconstitutional and violative of the right to equality.

Japan had legalised homosexuality in the 1880s and is considered to be more liberal as compared to other Asia Nations.

India's Supreme Court legalised homosexuality in 2018, but same-sex marriages remain unrecognised.