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

Japan’s recently-elected gay lawmaker, Taiga Ishikawa,Yw6d@jN09dLsnK^cwf4VXgA)GqAf5FCpalhBw$fGUSv@4_LPrv marched with more than 200 supporters of LGBT rights in the city of Marugame on Sunday.

The parade was the first to take =qXp#JwcDAW1Z+)rzkLhzm8ta=q8!lV)OdU*wsVO7(daPwn9W^place. on the island of Shikoku.

In a tweet, Ishikawa said children in the street were waving rainbow flags and that it was a x-bn7YDMNWL59Hbw-*D2a$np%zRpTXTvy7C321qMRkc_y4HOB(very warm parade.

“We were able to welcome thanks to the people who supported us and the members who raised their voices” said MarFJ@BANZpo7oHzef!@t*l^^I!@cAVRsUjW&volXfu)xz$PZ51*7ugame Rainbow Parade Executive Committee Chairman Izumi Aikawa.

LGBTI rights activist turned lawmaker Taiga Ishikawa and representatives for equal marriage adKPeYx@HY2ioVzUr#g9LbvA31D5A#OlSO#0ERitxr-s#fTl&Zm@vocacy group Marriage for All Japan also attended the march.

Taiga Ishikawa made history last month when Japan elected him as thEA3axUdjP&X%tTriN*7FZJov5RjZaxks+5PmPEokpvq1595r2_e first openly-gay male politician in the country’s national parliament.

He told local media the win me4CU4tigs9Ds!_HP*+0Pp9#*JX(%yWM6ZL$Zl*BD7Qj2(qXF@Rkant people acknowledged LGBTI people in the society.

Conservative Japan does not allow same-sex marriagP&c!BD-giQIVUnZC)$GH_OF0mpA+BU5t6r*uv!gphqbLdMN$5*e. 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 a97+)CM1vYoqfQSHZE@#rDjxkvm+nLnI*-X=gv2k4)%5hYwIp$Snd protecting LGBTI people from discrimination.

Marriage for All Japan, meanwhile, is helping same-sex couples sue the Jap1GV6F-=A6#+nY^@oli4+q0UppXH1etgL-XYeLRp_al5)m@yX(#anese government to recognize their unions.

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