July 8, 2015
A group of 455 sexual minorities on July 7 filed a request for human rights relief with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), claiming that to not allow same-sex couples to legally get married violates Article 14 of the Constitution stipulating, “All the people are equal under the law.”
Article 14 also states, “[T]here shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.”
This LGBT group submitted a petition signed by 11,680 people requesting the JFBA as a representative umbrella group of all the lawyers in Japan to recommend that the national government and Diet legalize marriages between two people of the same sex.
The petitioners, with ages ranging from the teens to the 60s, complained that they have more difficulty living everyday life than opposite-sex couples because of the absence of a system in Japan which legally recognizes same-sex marriages or same-sex partnerships. For example, they are neither entitled to the right to share the spouse’s estate nor eligible for health insurance coverage as a dependent family member. Non-Japanese partners always have a problem regarding their visa status.
A complainant in the 40s at a news conference voiced expectations for a legally-binding system by saying, “The legalization can reduce prejudice against the LGBT community and we will be able to be true to ourselves.”
Their lawyer Yamashita Toshimasa said, “Until now, there has been no court precedent regarding same-sex marriages. So, the JFBA’s decision will be a key to future discussions on legislating same-sex marriages and to judicial rulings as well. Filing this human rights complaint is a big step forward.”
Past related articles:
> A society benefitting LGBT community will benefit all [May 18, 2015]
> Let’s create a society where everyone can be true to themselves [April 21, 2015]
> Same-sex couple certification ordinance passed in Shibuya [April 1, 2015]
> JCP Ikeuchi pushes gov’t to protect LGBT rights [March 6, 2015]
> Discussion on same-sex marriage has finally begun in Japan [February 23, 2015]
Article 14 also states, “[T]here shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.”
This LGBT group submitted a petition signed by 11,680 people requesting the JFBA as a representative umbrella group of all the lawyers in Japan to recommend that the national government and Diet legalize marriages between two people of the same sex.
The petitioners, with ages ranging from the teens to the 60s, complained that they have more difficulty living everyday life than opposite-sex couples because of the absence of a system in Japan which legally recognizes same-sex marriages or same-sex partnerships. For example, they are neither entitled to the right to share the spouse’s estate nor eligible for health insurance coverage as a dependent family member. Non-Japanese partners always have a problem regarding their visa status.
A complainant in the 40s at a news conference voiced expectations for a legally-binding system by saying, “The legalization can reduce prejudice against the LGBT community and we will be able to be true to ourselves.”
Their lawyer Yamashita Toshimasa said, “Until now, there has been no court precedent regarding same-sex marriages. So, the JFBA’s decision will be a key to future discussions on legislating same-sex marriages and to judicial rulings as well. Filing this human rights complaint is a big step forward.”
Past related articles:
> A society benefitting LGBT community will benefit all [May 18, 2015]
> Let’s create a society where everyone can be true to themselves [April 21, 2015]
> Same-sex couple certification ordinance passed in Shibuya [April 1, 2015]
> JCP Ikeuchi pushes gov’t to protect LGBT rights [March 6, 2015]
> Discussion on same-sex marriage has finally begun in Japan [February 23, 2015]
