Kishida Positive on Enactment of LGBT Protection Bill

Tokyo, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday indicated a positive stance on early enactment of a bill to promote public understanding of LGBT people.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is preparing to submit such a bill to parliament, Kishida said at a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee. "We'll respect and watch moves by lawmakers," he said.

A group of suprapartisan lawmakers in May 2021 crafted a bill that would oblige the government to draw up a basic program to promote public understanding of LGBT people. The group failed to submit it to parliament, however, because of opposition from conservative LDP lawmakers.

Executives of the lawmakers' group Wednesday confirmed that it will aim for the bill's passage before Japan hosts a summit of leaders from the Group of Seven major democracies in Hiroshima in May.

"The G-7 (summit) is a good opportunity to showcase Japan's values, diversity and tolerant society. It's necessary to enact the law by the G-7 (summit)," Tomomi Inada, a senior LDP lawmaker and acting chairman of the group, told reporters.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]