A Japanese court recently ruled that the state’s failure to recognise same-sex marriage was unconstitutional – a landmark verdict that came after decades of arduous campaigning. In Hong Kong, meanwhile, a recently widowed gay man is mounting a legal case to have his relationship with his deceased partner recognised. If successful, this could pave the way for same-sex relationships to be legally recognised in the city. What underlies both cases is their timeliness and their reflection of deeply anachronistic legal systems that are not commensurate with public interests and opinion. Now there is no effective opposition in the Legislative Council and it could, in theory, pass whatever laws it wants to, the case for legislating to prevent discrimination over sexual orientation has never been stronger.