Kyodo News reports (Feb. 13) Leader of the Komeito Party Secondary ally of the Japanese ruling party Meet with the US special envoy Sexual minorities side on Wednesday It was agreed that Japan should enact legislation to promote better understanding of the LGBTQ community ahead of the G7 summit in May in Hiroshima.
During his meeting with US special envoy Jessica Stern. To promote the human rights of sexual minorities, Komeito Party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi said it was important to raise awareness that discrimination cannot be tolerated in society.
Previously, the Liberal Democratic Party or LDP, an ally of Komeito It is led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who recently fired a close aide for discrimination against LGBTQ people.
Stern expressed hope that Japan U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emmanuel, who traveled with Stern It underscores the need for legislation while the issue remains in the public eye.
The government’s stance on Japan’s LGBTQ community has recently gained attention after Masayoshi Arai, who served as Kishida’s executive secretary, told reporters last week that he “Didn’t want to be in the next room” with an LGBTQ couple and “didn’t even want to look at them.”
The G7 is a group of the world’s leading industrialized nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, with Japan being the only member country in Asia. and is the only country of the group that does not accept same-sex marriage or marriage equality Because many members of the conservative LDP of Kishida have objected to this idea It emphasizes traditional values of the country, such as the role of women in childbirth and child rearing.
Some opposition parties are trying to enact legislation to facilitate understanding of sex minorities during parliamentary sessions running through June 21, the same as Kishida is scheduled to do. will host the G7 summit in his own constituency for three days until May 21.
Previously, the said bill had been repealed. Although the government and the opposition approved the bill in May 2021 after opposition from the LDP leadership, there was controversy over the phrase “I don’t know what to say.” “Discrimination is unacceptable.” Conservative members claim that the extent of discrimination is unclear.
While Kishida remains cautious about recognizing same-sex marriage in Japan, Speaking at parliament last week, “This is something that could change how people view family, values and society.”
