---
[ SAY WHAT? ](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what)
# Shocker! Japanese Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Ban is Unconstitutional
March 18 2021
Written by Bil Browning.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
****
**MEDIA WATCH**--A Japanese court has ruled that the country’s [ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional](https://apnews.com/article/world-news-japan-marriage-268a4978c491c863b547f543ab25297a). While the ruling is being celebrated, it doesn’t mean that marriages can start being performed immediately.
Four other court cases are working their way through the system and the decision by the Sapporo District Court is expected to influence the outcomes.
The court ruled that sexual orientation, like race, is not a matter of individual preference and therefore denying same-sex couples the same benefits as straight couples is unconstitutional.
“Legal benefits stemming from marriages should equally benefit both homosexuals and heterosexuals,” the court wrote in the ruling, saying the prohibition violates the constitutional ban “because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.”
The court denied the plaintiffs’ request for financial compensation of around $9,000.
Japan is the only G7 country to still ban same-sex marriage and has laws that actively harm couples. Same-sex couples cannot inherit their partner’s estate and have no parental rights to children. Marriages performed abroad are not recognized by the government, causing visa issues for binational couples and tourists.
“I hope this ruling serves as a first step for Japan to change,” one of the anonymous plaintiffs said after ruling was handed down.
Japan’s National Diet would have to pass a law to formally legalize marriage equality in the country.
*(Bil Browning writes for LGBTQNation.com … where this report was most recently posted.)*
*-cw*
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Email
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up)
### [L.A. County Faces a Government Shake-Up](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up)
WESTSIDE - Currently larger than 40 states in terms of population with roughly 10 million residents, Los Angeles County…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33346-before-we-ask-god-to-judge-us-the-jewish-people-must-judge-ourselves)
### [Before We Ask God to Judge Us, the Jewish People Must Judge Ourselves](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33346-before-we-ask-god-to-judge-us-the-jewish-people-must-judge-ourselves)
Yom Kippur demands more than personal repentance. At a defining moment for Jews everywhere, it asks whether we have tru…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel)
### [The Greater Israel Delusion May Undo Israel](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel)
ANNEXATION - The vision of “Greater Israel” draws on maximalist readings of biblical verses, especially Genesis 15:18–2…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/world-watch/33366-israels-political-map-is-being-redrawn)
### [Israel’s Political Map Is Being Redrawn](https://www.citywatchla.com/world-watch/33366-israels-political-map-is-being-redrawn)
NETANYAHUISM - The next Israeli election may be about something larger than Benjamin Netanyahu. For the first time in a…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away)
### [LA, Stop the War on Cars. They Aren’t Going Away](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away)
LA TRANSPO - For anyone traversing the San Fernando Valley, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Los Angeles is sp…
---
## [ SAY WHAT? ](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/29907-oh-for-f-ks-sake)### [Oh For F\*\*k's Sake](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/29907-oh-for-f-ks-sake)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/29692-a-monument-to-cruelty)### [A Monument To Cruelty](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/29692-a-monument-to-cruelty)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/29532-omg-now-theyre-coming-for-our-cats-and-chairs-and-ducks)### [OMG Now They're Coming For Our Cats and Chairs and Ducks](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/29532-omg-now-theyre-coming-for-our-cats-and-chairs-and-ducks)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/29066-shame-shame-shame-martha-ann-is-an-ungodly-piece-of-work)### [Shame, Shame, Shame: Martha-Ann Is an Ungodly Piece of Work](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/29066-shame-shame-shame-martha-ann-is-an-ungodly-piece-of-work)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/28868-they-walk-among-us-mississippi-goddamn-still)### [They Walk Among Us: Mississippi Goddamn, Still](https://www.citywatchla.com/say-what/28868-they-walk-among-us-mississippi-goddamn-still)