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

Japan’s recently-elected gay lawmaker, Taiga Ishikawa, marched with[email protected](71A0kT&DaKgwO%FYuuhFOWAQny-XhF more than 200 supporters of LGBT rights in the city of Marugame on Sunday.

The parade was the first to take place. on the islanX([email protected]&cG-!CphS-d$6nHF!UI1rAMnZUFi)a9d of Shikoku.

In a tweet, Ishikawa said children in bMB=Ei1Y1fTxDS=aOe=ylUI$D%TD=4+MSd7Gwy2AGFA0Y-#T3Lthe street were waving rainbow flags and 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 Parade Executive Committee ChairmanL!AONZK*=u-%tjvSIGCxh#[email protected]&%2in)dwqyf8NZ3%ax(VrXe Izumi Aikawa.

LGBTI rights activist turned lawmaker Taiga Ishikawa and representatives for equal marriage advocacy group Marriage for All Japan also attended the march$iHs484GlR1MI&iJzQYg(N6j3bMk*7tWjAzh1wz=RMuefamr(U.

Taiga Ishikawa made history last month when Japan electZ5EguM9IVwUtz)B01&Ld)wz&(+ufE_5^xBFqw8w#rD1E0VydfAed him as the first openly-gay male politician in the country’s national parliament.

He told local medwh-HdccX=-2pgYfw_JTyG=TM+6HrZKvQpIu1LWc6#[email protected]ia the win meant people acknowledged LGBTI people in the society.

Conservative Japan does not al%Qg&UP_&)Ay^-_=2goBUpRg1fpnupBWPxCCQEEs9AiZ0y2_zPHlow 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 wW$wQ=qWxCu(y+hhQv3*aLsp78SrW-JEZdC!7n+h+jubt9#MahAith bills affording marriage equality and protecting LGBTI people from discrimination.

Marriage for All Japan, meanwhile, is helping same-sex couples sue the Japanese governme*fbjUId&oPXn*lV!)[email protected]&wU&hD!eQ-MqBzYARw0UK5niQdFZnt to recognize their unions.

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