What's happened
Recent court rulings in Japan and Hong Kong have advanced LGBTQ+ rights, with Japan's Fukuoka High Court declaring the ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional and Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal granting equal housing rights to same-sex couples married overseas. These decisions reflect a growing recognition of equality and human rights in both regions.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to AP News, the Fukuoka High Court's ruling emphasized that the ban on same-sex marriage violates fundamental rights, stating, 'there is no longer any reason to not legally recognize same-sex marriage.' This sentiment is echoed in The Independent, which notes that the ruling is part of a broader trend, with eight out of nine rulings favoring marriage equality since 2019. Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post highlights Hong Kong's ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, pointing out that the government should implement comprehensive legislation rather than relying on court rulings. The contrasting approaches in Japan and Hong Kong illustrate the varying degrees of progress and resistance faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Asia.
How we got here
Since 2019, LGBTQ+ activists in Japan have pursued legal recognition of same-sex marriage through a series of lawsuits. In Hong Kong, landmark cases over the past 11 years have challenged discriminatory policies against same-sex couples, culminating in recent court victories that underscore the need for legislative reform.
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Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.