Advocates in Japan Hope for Progress on Marriage Equality: “We Are So Far Behind"
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Although Tokyo recently became the latest city to recognize same-sex marriage, many parts of Japan have been left behind making it the only country in the G7 still denying LGBTQ+ people marriage equality.
This week, LGBTQ+ advocates in Japan have submitted a petition challenging a pamphlet recently dispersed during a meeting held by the Liberal Democratic Park of Japan (LDP). The pamphlet included a description of same-sex relations as an “acquired psychological disorder”.
One of the plaintiffs objecting to Japan’s current ban on same-sex marriage, Shinya Yamagata, explains, “The attitude is that being gay is an illness or an addiction. There is a lot of talk about equality … it is those with the political power who are the problem. The LDP is influenced by conservative religions and other groups, and it says it’s the party of family values, even though most Japanese support gay marriage. I’m not optimistic they will change their stance until those influences have waned, and that will take a long time.”
Recent opinion polls also showed that over 60% of the public is in support of equal marriage, but laws still lag behind.
In March 2021, the Sapporo district court sided in agreement with the plaintiffs that not allowing LGBTQ+ couples to “enjoy even a part of the legal effects that arise from marriage”, was a violation of article 14 of the postwar constitution, which requires equality of all people under the law.
However, earlier this year, the Osaka district court ruled in the opposite direction – deciding that the equal marriage ban was constitutional.
The next ruling is due in November and will be critical in the push for LGBTQ+ equality. Yamagata adds that “The court will have to side with one of the previous rulings or the other. When you experience that kind of prejudice it can have a terrible effect on people’s mental health,” Yamagata said. “When powerful people in society believe you are suffering from some sort of illness or disorder, it is difficult to feel good about yourself and be optimistic about the future.”
Lenna Kawazu, who recently had challenges applying for a mortgage with their partner because of the inability for their relationship to be legally recognized, explains: “All of the major parties have to bring this to the table, but gay marriage still isn’t considered a big issue in Japan. That has to change if Japan wants to catch up with other countries. We are so far behind.”
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