Japanese court says same-sex marriage should be allowed

A ban on same-sex marriages in Japan has been deemed unconstitutional by a court (Yohei Fukai/Kyodo News/AP)

A Japanese court has for the first time ruled that same-sex marriage should be allowed under the country’s constitution, a moral victory that does not have any immediate legal consequence but could bolster efforts for legalisation.

Sapporo District Court said sexuality, like race and gender, is not a matter of individual preference, so prohibiting same-sex couples from receiving benefits given to heterosexual couples cannot be justified.