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

Japan’s recently-ele3u7c2MudjF$s4nIpuzZvTkBXWU1Of%iFTjVc96c0HeNTfY)AMvcted gay lawmaker, Taiga Ishikawa, marched with more than 200 supporters of LGBT rights in the city of Marugame on Sunday.

The parade was the firse=(qjI7ajMxM^T9flhVi1McO*3-FQ*w=&_+Fb2ZWwv*k=7FAoGt to take place. on the island of Shikoku.

In a tweet, Ishikawa said children in[email protected]&!xY7M0lMJCDkg&K0S7YmFU^#HWG_nh=d_4 the 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 RainbbNzu$UNXS^^BnGP*cGA&xZt8Hy+3W7&ds#[email protected]ow Parade Executive Committee Chairman Izumi Aikawa.

LGBTI rights activist turned lawmaker Taiga Ishikawa and representatives for equal m26uiMmu_=aibScX4(x*JDIQW(a8KA_Y-Tzh#BUA^I9!w)$iNm(arriage advocacy group Marriage for All Japan also attended the march.

Taiga Ishikawa made histoznrzUjNeaVSVDSJ4gAq4OCT8TFUsmF8O^#b0y1kHpUE^v4dJ)Kry 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 people in thH9OJD^w3OuSfjAmeILJuWC++FqI#ml7_NAZY7mhVMS%miwKo0Me society.

Conservative Japan does not allow same-sex marriage. National laws do not protect [email protected]%i1S+z=sWpriq+QaLEjcAE$xANCKc3KRLc&wHm9yeT#v0RB_LGBTI people from discrimination.

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

He prEJgXb+mEM2nGiAYKKteQ^8vYiDSL0BdfUO8&%Xp^rR)W2BQ)x#omised to push ahead with bills affording marriage equality and protecting LGBTI people from discrimination.

Marriage for All Japan, meanwhile, is helpn_^#xxRJ6LGSb3iH5c+kZq(vUo%5c--vRs#G)57BG3Glb*KbQWing same-sex couples sue the Japanese government to recognize their unions.

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