The powerful lower house of Japan’s parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to promote understanding of LGBTQ+ issues amid protests by activists that last-minute revisions by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s conservative party favored opponents of sexual equality instead of guaranteeing equal rights.
The passage followed only a few hours of debate in a lower house committee last Friday, an unusually short period. The bill is expected to be approved quickly by parliament’s upper house, which is also controlled by Kishida’s governing bloc.
LGBTQ+ activists have increased their efforts to achieve an anti-discrimination law since a former Kishida aide said in February that he wouldn’t want to live next to LGBTQ+ people and that citizens would flee Japan if same-sex marriage were allowed. The bill states that the public’s understanding of various sexual orientations and gender identities is “not necessarily sufficient.” It says conditions should be created so that “all citizens can live with peace of mind,” which critics say shows the governing party prioritized the concerns of opponents of equal rights over the rights of sexual minorities.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Near-supermajority of Calif. voters want Sen. Feinstein to resignCalifornians want Feinstein out, and her approval rating keeps tumbling lower and lower, according to a new poll from Emerson College.
Read more »
Bidens offer 'joy' at White House Pride event as LGBTQ attacks mountU.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday hosted the largest Pride celebration in White House history on Saturday, calling for new measures to protect the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ people amid a spate of what he called 'terrifying' attacks and legislation.
Read more »
LGBTQ community celebrates Pride in the face of online and offline attacksMillions of LGBTQ Americans are taking part in this year’s Pride celebrations against a backdrop of increasing attacks, both online and offline.
Read more »
North Carolina GOP censures Sen. TillisThey assailed him for his votes on LGBTQ+ rights, immigration policies and gun issues.
Read more »
Anti-LGBTQ laws spark a political wildfire, threatening civil rights in Ohio: Leslie KoubaThe Human Rights Campaign, which has defended the civil rights of the LGBTQ population for decades, has declared a state of emergency for all LGBTQ people living in the U.S. Columnist Leslie Kouba tells us how Ohio fits into that picture.
Read more »