Poll reveals majority support for Japanese marriage equality

A new poll carried out in Japan had found a majority support in changing the country’s legislation to permit same-sex marriage.

Fifty-one per cent of those surveyed by researchers from universities and the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research back marriage equality, reports the Asahi Shimbun.

The younger generations were leading calls for change in the law, with over 70 per cent of supporters aged in their 20s and 30s, comparable to 38 per cent support from people in their 60s, and 24 per cent support from those in their 70s.

Women were found to be much more supportive of same-sex unions with 57 per cent of respondents saying they would support marriage equality, compared to 45 per cent of male respondents.

The survey also found 72 per cent of respondents said they’d feel “reluctant to accept the fact their child is gay”, with 39 per cent saying their would feel uneasy if a gay person lived in their neighbourhood, and 42 per cent feeling uncomfortable if a work colleague was gay.

Conducted earlier this year in March, researchers received responses from 1,259 people.

Under the Japanese Constitution, Article 24 of the Constitution currently states “marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes.”

Yet Article 14 also states “all of the people are equal under the law and there shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.”

The survey follows comments made earlier this year by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who said same-sex marriage would be “difficult” to revise under the existing Constitution.

“The Constitution was written when same-sex marriage was not contemplated,” he told the Japanese Upper House on February 18.

Earlier this month, two wards in Tokyo began to issue certificates recognising same-sex couples, despite the constitutional ban.

The certificates, which have been viewed as an important step towards equal rights, will allow same-sex couples to access family housing, family-exclusive hospital visits, and a raft of legal rights including joint insurance benefits.