Japan court rules that a bar on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional

A Japanese court ruled on Tuesday that not allowing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, a decision activists welcomed as a step towards marriage equality in the only Group of Seven nation with no legal protection for same-sex unions.

The ruling by the Nagoya District Court was the second to find a ban against same-sex marriage unconstitutional, out of four cases on the issue over the past two years. Japan's constitution says marriage is between a man and a woman.

"This ruling has rescued us from the hurt of last year's ruling that said there was nothing wrong with the ban, and the hurt of what the government keeps saying," lead lawyer Yoko Mizushima told journalists and supporters outside the court.

She was referring to a ruling in Osaka last year that the ban was not out of line with the constitution.

more...