Japanese High Court Declares Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

The Sapporo High Court in Japan has ruled the country's lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, upholding a lower court's verdict from 2021. While rejecting damages sought by three same-sex couples, the court stated that the current laws' unacceptance of same-sex marriage violates the right to equality and the provision of marriage being based on mutual consent of "both sexes." The ruling marks a significant step in the ongoing legal battle for marriage equality in Japan, where same-sex marriage and civil unions remain unrecognized despite growing pressure from the LGBT community and its supporters.