Nintendo Of Japan Recognizes Gay Marriage Even Though Japan Doesn't, Leading To Much Discourse Online
Many Nintendo fans are celebrating after the corporation's Japanese branch announced measures to circumvent the country's ban on gay marriage within the company.
The company issued an update to its corporate social responsibility initiatives earlier this week, where it clarified that while Japan does not recognize gay marriage, employees in a same-sex marriage will receive the same benefits as those in a heterosexual one.
The corporate document reads, in part:
Although same-sex marriages are not currently recognized under Japanese law, this system ensures employees who are in a domestic partnership with a same-sex partner have the same benefits as employees in an opposite-sex marriage. We have also established that a common-law marriage between couples will be observed in the same way as a legal marriage.
In late June, Japan upheld its ruling that gay marriage was unconstitutional, and it seems Nintendo has elected to ignore that ruling within the confines of their company.
Given the tumultuous political climate in Japan recently, the news of Nintendo's internal refusal to recognize the country's same-sex marriage ban was celebrated and joked about online as numerous tweets, articles and other posts commented on the viral topic.
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TheStupidRaptor
This is a joke. Japan of all countries wouldn't ban gay marriage. They're all about sexy time and sexy people having sex like yuri girls scissoring and skinny bishonen men with their faces touching.
mandrac
Took you long enough…
Tigrerojo
…am I the only one that gets an uncanny vibe from this pic? Like he is in a courtoom about to receive a life sentence?…
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> gay marriages are unconstitutional
They did not rule them unconstitutional, they just held that the constitution didn't mandate them – ie. it's not a constitutionally guaranteed right. The legislative branch can still legalize it if they want to though. And it looks like the majority in Japan want that.
Timey16
IIRC 75+% of Japanese are pro gay marriage. So if it came to a referendum it would win EASILY. But since they also have this "don't rock the boat too much" mindset they keep voting for the party wanting to keep it illegal.
Nedhitis
You have to admit that a company acknowledging gay rights not only outside of pride month, but also against its country's Constitution is pretty ballsy and rare. Pretty based, even.
Ironic. It took a Japanese corporation of all things for them to finally give a legitimate crap about gay rights instead of pretending to do so for profit, and in a country that actually needs that sentiment too. What now, Western companies and its Twitter drones praising them and talking shit about the supposedly so bigoted Japan..? What next..?
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> against its country's Constitution
It's not against the country's constitution. It's just not guaranteed by it (ie. the court does not recognize it as a right) so the government cannot be forced to legalize it.
It's comparable to marijuana in the US – you do not have a right to smoke weed, and if you sue the government claiming they are violating your rights for prosecuting you under drug laws you will lose, but the majority support it's legalization.
So it's not like they're taking some anti-nationalist stand – in fact support for legalizing it is popular.
Nintendo isn't being particularly brave here – but I do support their decision.
As a comparison, it'd be like a company in the US having a proper mat leave allowance. They don't have to do it, but they should do it.
Blue2
As much I hate Nintendo's business practices with all these copyright take downs during the past years.
I'll give them high props for actually stepping up and treating their homosexual employees with the same respect as their heterosexual employees.
Awesome news.
SardonicRainboom
Japan ruled what now?
achunkofbutter
Finally… Gay Bowser…
ChihuahuaExorcist
That's pretty cool! Probably a corporate virtue signal, but cool nonetheless.
Blue2
Sorry but I wholehearted disagree.
Corporate virtue signaling happens when a company say they're for something but their actions and/or policies prove otherwise.
Example: A company changes their logo for a rainbow, share some pride posts. Meanwhile, don't hire any LGBT+ people, or makes an hostile environment towards anyone who came out so the employee quits.
What Nintendo said, matches their policy and actions.
That's not virtue signaling, that's principle.
Zigzagoon
Honestly I'd rather have a company institute anti-discrimination policies and benefits rather than just plastering rainbows everywhere. (Doesn't mean I still don't have other issues with Nintendo as a company.)
ChihuahuaExorcist
I stand corrected.