TOKYO. Activists and members of the LGBTQ+ community in Tokyo distributed colorful chocolate candy for Valentines Day, commemorating the fifth anniversary of their legal battle for marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Japan stands as the sole member of the Group of Seven nations that still denies same-sex couples the right to marry and receive spousal benefits.
While public support for legalizing marriage equality has been steadily growing in Japan, the conservative-leaning Liberal Democratic Party remains a significant obstacle to the campaign, often associated with traditional family values and a reluctance to embrace gender equality and sexual diversity.
Gathering outside a bustling downtown Tokyo train station, activists passionately advocated for equal marriage rights, distributing bags of Meiji “marble chocolate” candy, accompanied by informational flyers detailing their ongoing legal challenges.
February 14th also marks the fifth anniversary of the initial lawsuits filed in pursuit of LGBTQ+ marriage rights. Since February 14, 2019, over a dozen couples have filed lawsuits across Japan, spanning six separate cases in five different courts.
Of the five rulings issued thus far, four have declared the denial of rights unconstitutional, with one ruling aligning with the constitution. The outcome of the sixth petition, currently before a district court in Tokyo, is expected next month.
At the rally, a 41-year-old former police officer who goes by the alias Kotfe, citing concerns for legal repercussions, expressed hopes for increased public awareness and support for sexual diversity and same-sex unions. Kotfe and his male partner, a former firefighter, have been together for 12 years and aspire to marry once granted the legal right.
Fumiko Suda, a lawyer representing plaintiffs in Sapporo, voiced her frustration with the government’s resistance to legalizing marriage equality. She emphasized that 36 countries, spanning both the West and Asia, including Taiwan, Thailand, and Nepal, have already embraced marriage equality.
Despite Japan’s conservative stance, recent surveys indicate a majority of Japanese citizens support legalizing same-sex marriage, with growing backing from the business community.
Although critics argue its effectiveness, the government passed an LGBTQ+ awareness promotion law in June. Additionally, the Supreme Court deemed Japan’s requirement for compulsory sterilization surgery for transgender individuals seeking to officially change their gender as unconstitutional.
Hiromi Hatogai, a lesbian involved in the case before the Tokyo district court, lamented, “Despite the many years I’ve spent with my partner, we are considered strangers, not family, in the eyes of the law.” Hatogai stressed their simple desire for legal recognition through marriage, akin to any other couple.
As Japan grapples with evolving societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights, activists and allies continue to press forward, advocating for equal treatment and recognition under the law.
