Japan's recently-elected gay lawmaker attends historic pride march

Japan’s recently-elected gay lawmaker,)uBFg2zfKfe-r*-6jb=h(dGcJg+xNs8+P)+lS$P*+(kYl2A)d( Taiga Ishikawa, marched with more than 200 supporters of LGBT rights in the city of Marugame on Sunday.

The parade was the first to take rY6I-er-uJ*^dYR_eqwdQ-xP@A69jDWW#K-LY@TG62Tpjp4jUWplace. on the island of Shikoku.

In a tweet, Ishikawa said children in the street were waving rainbow flags azjSY34JePMIyWzFyoKctvI+H#$LV3^fCet9lYkp)k0i*TURIFgnd that it was a very warm parade.

“We were able to welcome thanks to the people who supported us and the members who raised their voices” said Marugame Rainbow Parad0z_P+u&k*#aie11h8-O+bS6p(++FWm!9yMA6T$Y5J8N9IcBLTDe Executive Committee Chairman Izumi Aikawa.

LGBTI rights activist turned lawmaker Taiga Ishikawa and representatives for equal marriage advocacy grbhap_Hc=(@Z0LTLtCplh6A+7!L$FeN5u_zw)IuRnWyGvKWON7Eoup Marriage for All Japan also attended the march.

Taiga I*fk#NqMN7GR+zg52fPS5ukJe2=hZn0WKp@ABg+UjNNDqeewLF2shikawa made history last month when Japan elected him as the first openly-gay male politician in the country’s national parliament.

He told local media the win meant people ackH_nE4P!9WF(MuHeB&)FJ_)P4jm(c!90vdowgwcszNV8oI*vbj-nowledged LGBTI people in the society.

Conservative JySBY4d$3SXRWJz9cVYeC_!G#8f5inez-*xMi^*fFY7om%DaP_eapan does not allow same-sex marriage. National laws do not protect LGBTI people from discrimination.

Ishikawa won a seat for the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) in the Upper House.

He promised to push ahead with bills affording marriage equality and protecting LGBTI people f#HefRRbu4-4xzdQq9ItZMr7&2SFH#Kd6WBM_Wys4g^sW1xhC+Xrom discrimination.

Marriage for All Japan, meanwhile, is helping same-sex couples suV3n&_Rbw^cFJ%FnIYRngelb5^wqscY)&eNycm(lYAzcuZXsDooe the Japanese government to recognize their unions.

Thirteen couples launched their cases in a number of local courts in February this year.