#samesexmarriage

[hollywood-montrose]

“Daria” episode “Pinch Sitter” (1997), parodying the well-known English nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle”.

(In 1997, Hawaii was the only state to have legalized domestic partnerships for same-sex couples).

[minaduchi-jp]

[Japan] Why Adoption Means Same-Sex Couples Can Never Marry

I'm Minaduchi, a gay man from Japan.

Japan remains the only G7 nation without marriage equality.

Same-sex couples who want legal family ties are told to "just adopt each other." But this turns equal partners into "parent" and "child." And Article 736 permanently bars them from ever becoming spouses.

🎭 30 Years Together, Rewritten as "Parent" and "Child"

At the city hall counter, the form has two boxes: "Adoptive Parent" and "Adopted Child."

They've been together for 30 years.

They split the rent.

They nursed each other through illness.

They were equals.

But the form says one must be the "parent" and the other the "child."

Because adoption requires the adoptive parent to be older, the roles are structurally fixed, even if the age gap is just a few months.

At the next counter, a young couple files a marriage certificate.

One sheet of paper.

They become legal spouses.

Same city hall. Completely different exits.

[NOTE] The above is a fact-based story to illustrate the problem. From here, I'll explain the actual situation.

📋 What Adoption Provides and What It Cannot

Adult adoption creates a parent-child relationship, not a spousal one, and the protections it provides fall far short of marriage.

Adoption does grant some legal effects: inheritance rights, shared family registry, mutual support obligations, and avoidance of the 20% inheritance tax surcharge.

Compared to the status of legal strangers, these are meaningful gains. But these benefits are limited to inheritance and support. They operate under a fundamentally different logic than the spousal rights system, which is built on the premise of equality between partners.

The rights that come automatically with marriage remain out of reach:

No property division: Dissolution is "severance," not "divorce," with no legal basis to split shared assets (Article 768 applies only to marriage)

No spousal tax benefits: The spousal income deduction (up to ¥710,000/year) and inheritance tax exemption (up to ¥160 million) do not apply

No survivor's pension: The right to receive a survivor's pension is limited to spouses

Partnership certificates, now covering over 530 municipalities (92.5% of Japan's population), carry no legal force. The government expanded 33 laws in 2025 to potentially include same-sex partners, but marriage, tax, inheritance, and pension systems remain excluded. Approximately 120 social security-related laws are not covered by this expansion.

🔒 The Irreversible Trap of Article 736

Under Article 736 of Japan's Civil Code, marriage between a former adoptive parent and child is permanently banned, even after the adoption is dissolved. This means adoption cannot serve as a stopgap until marriage equality arrives.

Once a couple enters an adoptive relationship, they face a dead end:

Dissolve the adoption → Article 736 permanently bars them from marrying

Keep the adoption → They remain "parent and child"

Either way, they can never become equal spouses. This is information that every couple considering adoption deserves to have before making an irreversible choice.

Contested dissolution requires court proceedings under Article 814, with limited grounds such as "malicious desertion" or "serious reasons making continuation unbearable," a higher bar than divorce.

⚖️ Where the World and Japan's Courts Stand

Globally, 38 to 40 countries have legalized same-sex marriage. Taiwan became Asia's first in 2019, and public support for marriage rights rose from 37.4% to 69.9% by 2025 (NDC survey). Support for adoption rights for same-sex couples also reached 76.9% (Taipei Times, 2024).

Thailand's marriage equality law took effect in January 2025, making it Asia's second country to legalize same-sex marriage. A 2024 RAND review found no credible evidence that legalization harmed heterosexual marriage rates.

In Japan, five of six high courts have ruled the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage unconstitutional. The Osaka High Court stated that a separate system would constitute "a new form of discrimination," and the Fukuoka High Court found that alternative systems are "insufficient." A Supreme Court ruling could come as early as 2026, but for couples who have already adopted, the barrier of Article 736 remains.

📝 Summary: The System Forces an Impossible Choice

Adult adoption was not designed to protect partnerships. Yet it is the only path to "legal family" for same-sex couples in Japan. When they take it, their equal partnership is rewritten as a hierarchy, their spousal protections vanish, and Article 736 closes off their right to ever marry.

This article does not intend to deny the decisions of those who chose adoption after careful consideration. The choice to protect a relationship with a loved one within limited options deserves sincere respect. But the problem is the system that forces such a choice.

Without an exception to Article 736, the very couples who need marriage equality the most will be left behind on the day it arrives. Whether through a transitional provision in future legislation or a judicial exception, a path must be created. Knowing about this issue and sharing it is the first step.

References:

Civil Code of Japan, Articles 736, 768, and 814

RAND Corporation, "The Effects of Same-Sex Marriage Laws on Different-Sex Marriage and Fertility" (2024)

Osaka High Court ruling on same-sex marriage (2024)

Fukuoka High Court ruling on same-sex marriage (2024)

Taiwan NDC survey on same-sex marriage (2025)

National Diet Library, summary of partnership certificate systems in Japan

This article includes a fact-based story to help illustrate the problem. The story portions have been anonymized, reconstructed, and adjusted to protect privacy. All non-story content is based on publicly available information.

[swiftlytrekking]

Hello friends and followers. I have amazing news to share. I am married now. I have found the love of my life. She's the most incredible woman I have ever met. I am finally living the lesbian life I've been dreaming of. I've never been happier. I finally have true love. If you're a queer person reading this (anyone in the LGBTQ+ community) l, please don't give up on finding love. I don't care who you are, where you are, or what your fears are. You will find happiness. Just please don't give up. Keep your head up, honey. You deserve a beautiful life and you'll get it.

[bidotorg]

"June 26, 2015, is a landmark date in American LGBT history. On that day, the US Supreme Court extended marriage equality to all fifty states and struck down state bans on same-sex unions. That court decision has transformed life — for the better — for LGBT people across the country."

June 26th, A Day That Changed My Life

Marriage equality recognizes that my relationships with men have the same value as my relationships with women.

[pennsyltuckyheathen]

Mike Johnson backed Clarence Thomas' suggestion that the Supreme Court 'reconsider' its rulings on contraception and same-sex marriage

Clarence Thomas suggested the Supreme Court "reconsider" contraception rights and gay marriage. Now-House Speaker Mike Johnson agreed.

MAGAMike said “There’s been some really bad law made” “and maybe some of that needs cleaned up” 

Johnson, who is now the Speaker of the House, made the comments in a podcast interview with right-wing commentator Todd Starnes on June 24, 2022 — the same day the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.

[sofiawellman]

While many other cities celebrate gay pride in June, Atlanta does it in October. This month coincides with National Coming Out Day and acknowledges the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Gay Rights. Another reason for holding Atlanta Pride in October is the cooler temperatures. Despite the fall breeze, the celebration doesn't stop from heating up here in the big peach. 

Atlanta has become a melting pot of diversity from all over the country. It attracts many young professionals because of its career opportunities; the median age is only 33. Also, many members of the LGBTQ community have migrated to Atlanta from smaller Georgia cities and towns and from neighboring states. This may partly be why Atlanta is known as the gay epicenter of the South. There is broader acceptance for being gay in Atlanta because of the combination of youthfulness and familiarity.

However, in contrast, it is still a city in the Bible Belt and a major center for traditional religious denominations, such as the Southern Baptist, which is alive and prolific in the South. This incongruity creates an interesting mix of similarities and differences.

If religion preaches love, and Pride does the same, they are not opposing beliefs at the core. Where they become disconnected is in the use of power. One belief system is about having authority over others, while the other is about empowering ourselves. You gain control over another by convincing them your way is the only way. In contrast, you evolve by enabling others to grow by honoring their individuality. 

Pride is more than rainbows and parades. It is about being authentically yourself, regardless of what others think. There is no deeper blasphemy than not being true to ourselves. We are here to express our unique abilities. Helping the world evolve and expand is our natural state for our souls and planet.

Go to Sofia Wellman YouTube channel to see the full episode, and subscribe to the media making a difference!

If you or someone you know has an inspiring story, contact me at [email protected]. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel, Sofia Wellman, so you don't miss weekly episodes of Freedom to Love, a documentary film series. Each week, you will watch a new story featuring fearless people who choose to be authentic and love freely. 

[sidowsobrino]

Richard Sidow Sobrino and I are Celebrating 3 years of being Married on August 24th. In a private ceremony, we got hitched in The wedding Capitol of the world, Las Vegas, NV.  We attended Cher's live Show at MGM Grand. When the staff heard about it being our special day, we were moved from our seats to VIPs. We got chocolate-covered strawberries, and the entire stadium cheered for us. Watch our wedding video, and Thank You for being the guest of honor of our love celebration. #Sidowsobrino #Theworldsno1superstar #Loveislove #celebraityweddings #celebritynews #celebritystyle #samesexmarriage #Samesexlove #menweddings #menlove #Pridelove #Samegenderweddings #celebrityfashion #Music #Movies #trendingartist #News #lovewins #menformen #Manlylove #grooms #lasvegas #Lasvegasweddings (at Las Vegas, Nevada) https://www.instagram.com/p/Chmstfzg_yD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[stuckylibrary]

Do you have anything similar to All Jokes Aside by Darksknight? Where Steve and Bucky are in a relationship but don't know it's legal to be gay

We have a few like that in our Same-Sex Marriage Legalization tag and Secret Relationship tag! (Here and Here on the Archive)

Fic mentioned:

All Jokes Aside by Darksknight (oneshot | 3,930 | T)

"Before we know it Banner’s gonna be makin’ insinuations.” (Everyone "jokes" about Steve and Bucky being in a relationship until, eventually, they admit that they are.)