Japan Under Pressure To Allow Same-Sex Marriage Ahead Of G7 Summit

Kishida caused some anger among advocates for equal rights for LGBTQ+ members, when he said that Japan’s ban on same-sex marriage was not discriminatory.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is facing tremendous pressure to allow same-sex marriage in the country as it prepares to host the G7 summit in May this year. The pressure is building on him as Japan is the only country in the G7 grouping that does not permit same-sex marriage to couples as LGBTQ+ rights are yet to be recognised here, reported The Guardian.

However, Kishida has tried to indicate that his government is not intolerant toward people from the LGBTQ+ background. He even made a new government position to ensure that LGBTQ+ members and their rights in the country are taken care of.

Although Kishida witnessed widespread anger from advocates for equal rights for LGBTQ+ members, when he said that the current ban on same-sex marriage in Japan was not discriminatory practice, reported The Guardian.

He had also said that any move to legalise same-sex marriage in the country would “fundamentally change society.” The Prime Minister further added that it would go against the traditional family values in Japanese society.

Activists and lawyers have criticized the government for its current stance on the matter. For instance, a leader of a group of lawyers taking cases in the Tokyo court seeking marriage equality Takako Uesugi said Kishida’s confusing stance on sexual minority right amounted to “approving of discrimination,” reported The Guardian. 

In a recentntly held Pride 7 summit in Tokyo, campaigners in the country asked to frame an anti-discrimination law ahead of hosting the G7 summit later this year.

An equal rights activist in Japan Makiko Terahara said, “The legislation is not only a minimum requirement for [LGBTQ+] people to be able to be who they are, but also a symbolic step toward eliminating underlying discrimination and prejudice against them,” as quoted by The Guardian report. 

Co-director of the Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation Natsuo Hayashi said other G7 member countries are watching whether Japan comes up with suitable anti-discrimination law or not.

Even the US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel called for  “clear, unambiguous” legislation in order to help protect people from the sexual minorities background before Japan’s present parliamentary session comes to an end in June.