May 19, 2023

The Japanese Communist Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and the Social Democratic Party on May 18 jointly submitted to the House of Representatives "a bill on promoting a better understanding of LGBT people" which was compiled by cross-party lawmakers to protect the human rights and dignity of sexual minorities.

The bill is designed to respect the fundamental human rights of all people, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As its basic principle, the bill prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition, the bill requires the central and local public authorities to formulate/implement measures to this effect.

Referring to a Liberal Democratic Party-version of the LGBT bill, JCP member of the Lower House Miyamoto Takeshi pointed out that the LDP-drafted bill is far from enough to eradicate LGBT discrimination. Miyamoto expressed his determination that he will work to make joint efforts with other opposition party legislators in order to have the opposition-proposed bill enacted in the current Diet session.

Past related article:
> LDP puts off approval on LGBT equality bill[May 29, 2021]