As Japan prepares to host the Group of Seven (G-7) leading industrialized nations’ summit in May, local LGBTQ activist groups are urging the government to pass an anti-discrimination law and legalize same-sex marriages. Japan is the only G-7 country that does not recognize same-sex marriages or provide other equal rights protections for LGBTQ individuals.
The need for legal protections has increased following an aide to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s comments in February that he would not want to live next to LGBTQ people and that citizens would flee Japan if same-sex marriage were allowed. The comments triggered public outrage, leading Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party to prepare legislation promoting awareness of LGBTQ rights, but not mandate them.
Activists see the G-7 summit as an opportunity to push for their cause and hope to have it included in the leaders’ joint statement. The groups leading the drive organized a conference in March where they formulated a statement that they submitted to Masako Mori, the government’s special advisor in charge of promoting LGBTQ awareness, on Friday. The statement urged the government to enact legislation prohibiting discrimination against sexual minorities, rather than merely promoting awareness of the issue.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan also issued a statement urging Japan to bring its protection of LGBTQ+ rights in line with other G-7 nations, as its lack of LGBTQ+ protections makes it a less attractive option for the best talent worldwide. Recent surveys have shown that most Japanese back legalizing same-sex marriages, while support for LGBTQ individuals has slowly increased in the country.
However, activists say that Japan’s conservative government has stonewalled the push for equal rights, despite public support. On Thursday, Kishida said that Japan promotes policies for an inclusive and diverse society but emphasized that the introduction of same-sex marriage is an issue that affects the foundation of people’s lives and family values. He added that the matter requires careful consideration and hoped to deepen discussions of the issue in parliament.
In light of Japan’s upcoming G-7 summit, the pressure for the country to join other nations in legalizing same-sex marriages and enacting anti-discrimination laws remains high.