The Fukuoka High Court ruled on Friday that a ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, as it violates people¡¯s right to pursue happiness ¡ª stronger phrasing than in its lower court ruling, marking a further victory for supporters of LGBTQ+ rights.
It is the third such high court ruling so far in Japan after the Sapporo High Court in March and the Tokyo High Court in October, with both declaring the same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional. The Fukuoka District Court ruled in June 2023 that not allowing same-sex couples to get married violates a clause in the Constitution stating laws shall be enacted from the standpoint of individual dignity.
In the past, Japanese courts have judged the same-sex marriage ban as either ¡°constitutional,¡± ¡°in the state of unconstitutionality¡± ¡ª which means it is close to being unconstitutional but not yet ¡ª and ¡°unconstitutional.¡±
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.