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Seventy-two percent of voters believe that Japan should legalize same-sex marriages, compared with 18 percent who oppose such a change, according to an Asahi Shimbun survey conducted on Feb. 18 and 19.

Support for legal recognition of same-sex marriages has steadily increased. The ratio in favor was 65 percent in a survey in March 2021 and 41 percent in February 2015.

Despite the trend, conservative members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party continue to prevent Diet deliberations on the issue. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has also expressed cautiousness, saying on Feb. 1 that legalized same-sex marriages is a topic that “will change society.”

However, 67 percent of supporters of Kishida’s LDP back the legalization of same-sex marriages, according to the nationwide telephone survey.

More than half of all respondents, or 51 percent, said legislation prohibiting discrimination against sexual minorities should be introduced, while 39 percent oppose the idea.

Among respondents who support legal same-sex marriages, 36 percent said an anti-discrimination law is not necessary.

Forty-seven percent of LDP supporters backed such a law.

The survey results showed no wide difference between LDP supporters and other voters on support measures for the LGBT community.

Cross-party lawmakers are working toward enacting a law to promote an “understanding” of sexual minorities following discriminatory remarks about LGBT people by a former aide of Kishida.

In off-the-record remarks to reporters, Masayoshi Arai said on Feb. 4 that he would not want to live next to sexual minorities or even look at them.

He was later fired as executive secretary in charge of media relations for Kishida.

Many sexual minorities have been calling for legislation to ban discrimination against them instead of the law to promote an understanding of them.

For this reason, the survey asked voters if they support such anti-discriminatory legislation.

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