Law Tokyo Court: unconstitutionality of same-sex marriage infringes human rights

[thomas]

Yesterday, the Tokyo District Court ruled that the nation's ban on same-sex marriages is constitutional and denied the plaintiffs compensation, dealing a fresh blow to LGBT rights. However, the court also stated that the lack of a legal system that recognizes same-sex couples as a family is a "serious threat to and violation for gay people" and is in a state of unconstitutionality regarding the second paragraph of Article 24 of the Constitution.

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The plaintiffs in the suit are eight people of same-sex couples living in Tokyo and other areas, ranging in age from their 30s to 60s. They argued that the Civil Law and Family Register Law that do not recognize same-sex marriages violates the Constitution's Article 14, which stipulates equality under the law, and Article 24, which guarantees the freedom of marriage. Based on the argument, they sought compensation from the central government for its failure to take legal measures to deal with the problem. Others have filed similar lawsuits in four other district courts: Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka. This was the third ruling among them, but the second to rule that the ban is constitutional. The Sapporo District Court ruled in March 2021 that legal provisions against same-sex couples are a clear violation of Article 14 and prevent them from enjoying the legal benefits of marriage. But in June this year, the Osaka District Court ruled that the ban is constitutional.

Court calls lack of legal system for same-sex marriage a ‘threat’ | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Japan disallowing same-sex marriage in unconstitutional state: court - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A Japanese court on Wednesday ruled that the existing legal system not allowing same-sex couples to marry and become families is in a

mainichi.jp

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Lack of rights for LGBT+ couples at odds with top law: Tokyo court

But ruling says Japan's denial of legal marriage equality is constitutional

asia.nikkei.com