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

Japan’s recentlyB4A7nb9*zZNEs1YOmCfU=)uGiyi50lLHQ7BVn#qAUsB(dixgAo-elected gay lawmaker, Taiga Ishikawa, marched with more than 200 supporters of LGBT rights in the city of Marugame on Sunday.

The parade was the first to t@_(@QzfC^HACXzZ(ekItA9GqYF=P1WnoLC1S5iwnfI5^1V8Ex=ake place. on the island of Shikoku.

In a tweet, Ishikawa said childrenL0@iq$rStZv96VcQHS9%Ek@HdL=*RXZZAl3+mGJtfFOie+8)fa in the street were waving rainbow flags and that it was a very warm parade.

“We were able to welcome thanks to the TSW1bsvY1#sW6JF!xlxkw7UVUBxu!nXNexX4v6(Y=5jY0@h)*dpeople who supported us and the members who raised their voices” said Marugame Rainbow Parade Executive Committee Chairman Izumi Aikawa.

LGBTI rights activist turned lawmaker Taiga Ishikawa and representatives for FC+cJ1yCRd341n&#+dRKIUW=IPsgMCYYg5C!2q#H_I3r#&CsT)equal marriage advocacy group Marriage for All Japan also attended the march.

Taiga IshikabP+c&4Dq5VD0yD&s8&vEFlxU^9N&(V)nj(*Xp#C)ioGGqEZpz@wa 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 meanvB+BZgx(4y&tvT$pBFOsg6D1Y9OMHKU#FoNoKo-vw3)Cap$&QKt people acknowledged LGBTI people in the society.

Conservative Japan does not allow saFJ5Jal!$=7raN%Liuf@tvD05=wuzZbq9_ORSj)9Ppu=pJ%BWgame-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 w5biphqlLZd#4kg@Md_4=H@B2y&zWi60TS&i)8$S0Q^^$k^%B7&ith bills affording marriage equality and protecting LGBTI people from discrimination.

Marriage for All Japan, meanwhile, is hBcdbgH()QRBe_lle^GrTAz3!G0FC8Jy^SW%CU0kWBR_-p6Va=velping 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.