Japan’s leading opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), has submitted a bill to parliament proposing the legalization of same-sex marriage. This bill seeks to amend the country’s Civil Code, which currently defines marriage as a union between partners of different sexes. Japan remains the only Group of Seven country that has not yet legalized same-sex marriage or civil unions.
The CDP’s move is a significant step towards recognizing the rights of LGBTQ individuals in Japan. Issues surrounding sexual minorities have recently garnered more public attention following an executive secretary’s dismissal by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in February, after making derogatory remarks about LGBTQ individuals.
While Kishida has yet to support the legalization of same-sex marriage, the CDP’s bill has been introduced to prompt further debate on the issue. Many members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party remain opposed to same-sex marriage, citing their preference for traditional family values.
The CDP’s executive deputy president, Chinami Nishimura, has denounced the current prohibition on same-sex marriage as discriminatory. In 2019, the CDP, alongside the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, proposed a similar bill, which failed to progress beyond the Diet session.
The proposed bill by the CDP reflects a growing momentum towards LGBTQ equality in Japan, and serves as an important reminder of the need to prioritize the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.