One of the six plaintiffs said he does not expect the government to act immediately and he will keep raising voice to achieve equality. Supporters cheered outside the court, waving rainbow flags and holding signs saying “Unconstitutional” and “Quick passage of law at parliament!” The judge, however, rejected demands by three same-sex couples that the government pay them 1 million yen ($7,155) each in compensation for the discriminatory treatment they face because they cannot be recognized as legally married couples. It noted a growing public acceptance for same-sex marriage. The ruling, coming during Gay Pride Month, said legalizing same-sex marriage is an international trend and that the United Nations’ human rights committee has repeatedly urged Japan to address discrimination against same-sex couples.

The judge in the Fukuoka case, Hiroyuki Ueda, ruled that “the current situation that excludes same-sex couples with no legal step to become families is in unconstitutional state.” The phrase means the judge found it is not an outright violation of the constitution but close to it.

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