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

Japan’s recently-elected gay lawmaker, Taiga IUx@=3IG1mLGwiXQUk1dY(XF!FB8uzt$5)9Gp(B*TRpg3^x2QXUshikawa, marched with more than 200 supporters of LGBT rights in the city of Marugame on Sunday.

The parade was the first to take place. on the island of Shikok@4Cp_l!q!t2=mz5Bdxe54JJHyzDG1-8+8(seozk%0EbDsDlwX-u.

In a tweet, Ishikawa said children in the street were waving rainbow flags and that it was a very warm pi4TBcP6vf&Wfb%$_GakBAavKR5Pp14eW8lB#g_XaCt7NkDl4@6arade.

“We were able to welcome thanks to the people who supported us and the members who raised their voices” said Marugame Rainbow fqN^aw@OKrij85XZTZoQvMdK#Fa7D#iIYy!Di9Ca+1dtEo&gXmParade Executive Committee Chairman Izumi Aikawa.

LGBTI rights activist turned lawmaker Taiga Ishikawa and representatives for equal marriage advocacy group Marriage foGWh8bcEQF-Bj!R@HP1+t#E+kzkCNZ=83An!B9X-ye^7I+lIuXEr All Japan also attended the march.

Taiga Ishikawa made history last month when Japan elected him as the first openly-gay al0JGd%%Me73$uV%oHjtUkLUK^3SitEV1#T#iD65D_N4ynONA-male politician in the country’s national parliament.

He told local media the win meant people ackng=pTb5+9)5w1PoYwpAoHvCp)bv7+E2#tX0#(INSm3az(IF2p8%owledged LGBTI people in the society.

Con7_Ic@3Cz%=8wcb&Uc-3%+K2Mkd-gg_Vc$2iToF2ci=Dld85pKkservative Japan 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 prrr9avMZ$%)ECUjz1Z&BymzG_%3cP43nB&$^cV@@Yp&nnE42CTAomised to push ahead with bills affording marriage equality and protecting LGBTI people from discrimination.

Marriage for All Japan, meanwhile, is helping same-sex couplesayUVv!jI6QnUJGcYeNSEZ3*$BiKIHq0eS*&8A6IblrSSt@L476 sue the Japanese government to recognize their unions.

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