A Japanese high court ruled Thursday the country’s lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, in a move likely to further mount pressure on the government to do more to protect sexual minorities.

The Sapporo High Court upheld the lower court’s landmark verdict in 2021 that said non-recognition of same-sex marriage violates the right to equality protected under the Constitution but rejected a total of 6 million yen ($40,600) in damages sought by three same-sex couples in Hokkaido against the state for emotional distress.

The plaintiffs said they will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.

  • ZagorathEnglish
    7•10 months ago

    The plaintiffs said they will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.

    Wait, they can appeal a decision which they won‽

    • @[email protected]English
      9•10 months ago

      The article has a paragraph later on that says:

      In rejecting the plaintiffs’ claims for damages, the court said, “It cannot be said that discussions at the Diet…regarding provisions not allowing same-sex marriage are clearly in violation of the Constitution.”

      I suspect the plaintiffs are only appealing that aspect of the judgment.

    • @kautauEnglish
      5•10 months ago

      My guess is it means because the high court voted it as unconstitutional, they are raising the issue to Japan’s Supreme Court to make it a national ruling

      • @NateNate60English
        2•10 months ago

        Japan isn’t a federation, there is no “federal”

        • @kautauEnglish
          2•10 months ago

          True, my word of choice should have been national, thanks for pointing that out, I’ll edit my comment