Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is taking heat for expressing hesitation in legalizing same-sex marriage saying that it would fundamentally change society and people's values.
When Chinami Nishimura, co-deputy president of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, argued for legalizing gay marriage at a Lower House Budget Committee session, Kishida replied, “That’s a topic we should consider very carefully."
“Because it’s a topic that will change people’s perception of family, values, and society, it’s important to make a decision only after deeply contemplating the mood of the whole of society.”
Critics charge that the remarks show he is out of touch because society has moved on from the matter. Polling shows that same-sex partnerships have indeed gradually become accepted throughout Japanese society.
Japan does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions. It is the only country in the G7 that does not legally recognize same-sex unions in any form.
Because the central government has dug its heels in on the matter, local governments in Japan have issued their own partnership certificates to same-sex couples, but they do not offer the same legal benefits of marriage. More than 250 local governments have introduced these kinds of systems, covering about 60 percent of the Japanese population.
It's time Japan!!!
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