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Lawyers representing plaintiffs hold a banner on March 17 that says the Sapporo District Court ruled that banning same-sex marriages is unconstitutional. (Kengo Hiyoshi)
SAPPORO In a landmark decision, the Sapporo District Court on March 17 ruled that the government’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages is unconstitutional and discriminatory against gay people.
“Sexual orientation is not something that a person can choose and change at their own will,” Presiding Judge Tomoko Takebe said in the ruling. “It is discriminatory treatment that gay people are being denied even part of the legal benefits resulting from marriage, and it goes beyond legislative discretionary powers.”