Japan's same-sex marriage ban 'unconstitutional'

A Japan high court ruled on Thursday that denying marriage to same-sex couples was unconstitutional.

Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven industrialized nations that doesn't offer legal protection for same-sex unions.

Rights groups said the omission is discriminatory and hurts its appeal as a global business center. The high court in Sapporo, a northern Japanese city, ruled that denying same-sex couples was a violation of citizens' fundamental right to have a family.