February 14 is an international day of love where people all over the globe express their love to their significant other. On this day, Japan’s same-sex couples are determined to fight for their marriage freedom, perhaps their happiness of a lifetime.
The lawsuits made against the cities of Japan include Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka, and Nagoya. In total, there are 13 couples who have filed a lawsuit in Japan, saying that it violates their rights to equality which is guaranteed by the constitution.
Japan banning same-sex marriage is supposedly “violating their constitutional rights.” Freshman Maliyah Yin said, “I believe that the couples are very brave, fighting for their marriage and all.”
The constitution of Japan only ever mentioned the mutual consent of the husband and wife for marriage, located in Article 24. Since it does not name anything about same-sex marriage, some government municipals do not go through with registering same-sex couples.
“This topic is very controversial,” freshman Martena Ayaad said. Article 24 is interpreted in many ways, leading to people’s different perspectives on things. Some of the lawsuits believe that the article should be more clear and reinterpreted because it can be misleading in various aspects.
To a majority of the globe, marriage equality is important. Even though many nations around the world have embraced LBGT rights already, but Japan might not ready for such a big change.
Many countries still remain conservative to this day. This creates problems for the new trends and ideas circling around as the government refuses to change itself for the people.
“I believe that anyone anywhere, is allowed to have an opinion on things like such,” Freshman Breanna Schlenz said. This topic is debatable in a lot of ways and can be backed up on both sides, many being able to see both perspectives.
Same-sex marriage can also a sensitive topic for several, leading to conflict and disagreements to whatever may happen in the future. So whether Japan later wants to become one of those countries that allow such marriage equality or not, same-sex couple fighters will have to keep working to obtain those rights.
Maybe one day, the world can rest at peace with same-sex marriage being accepted and understood by everyone. This kind of equality depends on the cooperation of everyone.