TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court has for the first time ruled that same-sex marriage should be allowed the country’s constitution, a moral victory that does not have any immediate legal consequence but could bolster efforts for legalization. The Sapporo District Court said sexuality, like race and gender, is not a matter of individual preference, therefore prohibiting same-sex couples from receiving benefits given to heterosexual couples cannot be justified. The court was hearing a case brought by three same-sex couples who were seeking government compensation for the difficulties they had to suffer from not being able to legally marry. The court denied them compensation. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters that the government disagreed with Wednesday’s ruling.
Japan court says same-sex marriage should be allowed
