“Let’s fight together”: Rina Sawayama calls for marriage equality on stage in Japan
Rina Sawayama has given an emotional speech about LGBTQ+ rights in Japan. On stage at the Summer Sonic Festival, the singer – who identifies as bisexual and pansexual – delivered a powerful statement about the lack of LGBTQ+ protections in the country. “I’m bisexual, but if I try to have a same-sex marriage here, I can’t,” said Rina. “It’s not allowed in Japan.
Out of the G7 countries it’s the only one that doesn’t have that protection.” Although a landmark ruling from 2021 declared that queer citizens should have the right to get married in the country, a Japanese court recently ruled that banning same-sex marriage is constitutional.
Currently, Japan’s constitution defines marriage as “mutual consent between both sexes” and doesn’t recognise marriage equality.
As an alternative to marriage, some municipalities within the country have issued non-legally binding certificates which allow partners to rent apartments together, grant hospital visitations and allow certain employment benefits.
