News / Aug. 25, 2019
Japan’s recently-elected gayAdbnUnK_eLBN5Tz+&tF(OK7g!po7Bypc)TU!S0^mySu4mzMavZ lawmaker, Taiga Ishikawa, marched with more than 200 supporters of LGBT rights in the city of Marugame on Sunday.
The parade was the first to t$XtJS-3FI#KMtWRK%mdTyacA=Dfkad2@s5lncfoB)k=w2rgBfrake place. on the island of Shikoku.
In a tweet, Ishikawa said children in the street were waving rainbow flags an@=az%ei87EO@lqY4ZKOEyubp7-Sj4VT1D_CGF9Gi2061osW4RJd that it was a very warm parade.
“We were able to welcome thanks to the people who supported us and the members who raised5C*R9zi8=JGsOD4U7*s$czhO5$7RG!rgs1Z$s^CtF$7yG%11m$ their voices” said Marugame Rainbow Parade Executive Committee Chairman Izumi Aikawa.
LGBTI rights activist turned lawmaker TDDsXublu&G(Z#DNe$9B1aDoi_$_OtleV7HJF%fhNht06Y*jIZPaiga Ishikawa and representatives for equal marriage advocacy group Marriage for All Japan also attended the march.
Taiga Ishikawa made history last month when Japan elected him as the first openly-gaJFKWHU#Iroz$R@gkDt4y27k*-%2HHTI@$Aq%x^u)ljqK_gC+3Ky male politician in the country’s national parliament.
He told local media the win meant people acknow*V+WzE*x&iPTxN+v&@49YJ%H^jT=xvfS55dn0!Q#i^bF2#y1pqledged LGBTI people in the society.
Consew@DmMDvmdV9Y-EgbKuhf)tg%3LNcmkUq_z+KmAxYX7G!F_Lw48rvative Japan does not allow same-sex marriage. National laws do not protect LGBTI people from discrimination.
Ishikawa wB_Ne*k7lop=Yq)rfuObi=IAtPW*A-kCQSBOXQD=bpDBXXYv$xzon a seat for the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) in the Upper House.
He promised to push ahead with bills ao^*g!6!jQVsHQ_f+mI*F&DYaBTCQKrDR^S_XCLGV)QqErEZzE(ffording marriage equality and protecting LGBTI people from discrimination.
Marriage for All Japan, meanwhile, is helping same-sex couples 2v%u5IOD*rms8IOYYbW&o87_Qmr!6ZFq%eZFE8k87=ZVx0Avgmsue the Japanese government to recognize their unions.
Thirteen couples launched their cases in a number of local courts in February this year.
