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

Japan’s recently-elected gay lawmaker, Taiga Ishikawa, marched with more than 200 supporters of LGBT riyMw%hiQwR%C@d6mLgsmIkFkx6KxOM8FE3^Jpqy#TrQU3R9Tmiights in the city of Marugame on Sunday.

The parade was the fino54#4BWHbLR5w*JgVus_ktX!b$+B%w80d%I**WkNCRisViGN_rst to take place. on the island of Shikoku.

InwNT)7qXgv4-EbU4+2!9J+4!pUsulK$X2!!&5NQr-cA%dLIX35- a tweet, Ishikawa said children in the street were waving rainbow flags and that it was a very warm parade.

“We were able to welcome thanT+C2o^-&W6+*3va7Y8pUAX=dDDrOvwq*Lw1otYx23*B8_!x1kNks to the people who supported us and the members who raised their voices” said Marugame Rainbow Parade Executive Committee Chairman Izumi Aikawa.

LGBTI rigRt4NFdiXyaA9-o@^B#rb=9%Z48K)wdg!2p0DSAeqNOc2!+OBeThts activist turned lawmaker Taiga Ishikawa and representatives for equal marriage advocacy group Marriage for All Japan also attended the march.

Taiga oC&SU^a_Cq7lE4rtkGaLr9h9^UKCX#%*VNh+-6C#NoppQa)(8kIshikawa 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 acknowledged LGBTI peopHJJRQCeYa9m_B3^F@T7aBYXL2weR*0n!n*CdGezvjeRbg*EIHXle in the society.

Conservative Japan does not allow same-sex marriage. National laws do not protect LGBTI people from discriminaWVeG$X$^7ml9wpPMSk09)Zi*Jk-UPCszU2Te6xX!OeJCM5hPIItion.

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

He promised to push ahead with NudRi7hq=b72cjGourBt1XYmmXW)wH3Az4AHrbZyPhR(3N=iccbills affording marriage equality and protecting LGBTI people from discrimination.

Marriage for All Japan, meanwhile, is helping same-sex couples sue the Japanese governHEj!EKgZ$U6yjMkN@4pE+gsLT3F^OX-w&zZOoKLE*uSap+sAsPment to recognize their unions.

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