Japan’s upper house elections have delivered the first gay man a seat in the nation’s federal parliament.

Taiga Ishikawa won a seat in the House of Councillors in this week’s elections.

The former LGBTIQ+ activist is the second to enter parliament, following the election of Kanako Otsuji to the lower house in 2017. Both Otsuji and Ishikawa represent the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan – the largest opposition party in the National Diet.

Speaking on his election, Ishikawa told media that he will continue the fight for marriage equality he had been part of outside of parliament.

“Since the early 2000s, the issue of same-sex marriage has progressed leaps and bounds,” Ishikawa told Reuters.

“It will happen within the six years of my term, I am sure.”

Homosexuality is not illegal in Japan, but there are very limited protections from discrimination for LGBTIQ+ people, and same-gender relationships are not recognised in national law – though Ishikawa says the recent passage of marriage equality in nearby Taiwan is heartening.

“It has been incredibly empowering to the Japanese LGBT community to see the growing acceptance overseas of same-sex marriage,” Ishikawa continued.

“I think we’re got a breakthrough now and I plan to move the conversation forward.”

OIP Staff