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U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pressed her Japanese counterparts to move forward on LGBT rights ahead of the Group of Seven summit in May, even as she praised the country’s investment in infrastructure.
“I believe as a collective in the G7 it’s important to send a message about what precisely aligns these countries,” the New York Democrat told Bloomberg News. “In that context, I think it’s critical that Japan takes steps to move toward recognition of LGBT communities broadly, not just marriage equality.”
Japan is preparing to host the G7 summit of advanced democracies in May as the only member not to recognize same-sex marriage or legally protect LGBT rights amid stiff debate on the issue.
At last year’s summit in Germany, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida signed a G7 communique affirming “shared values” with the other members and committing to “ensuring that everyone – independent of their gender identity or expression or sexual orientation — has the same opportunities and is protected against discrimination and violence.”
Japan’s parliament is currently wrestling over a bill to “promote understanding” of LGBT issues, though some conservatives oppose a clause saying that discrimination shouldn’t be allowed. Numerous polls show a majority of the public is in favor of allowing same-sex marriage, however.
“The United States and Japan’s shared commitment to the democratic principles of freedom, equality, and diversity must extend to LGBTQ individuals,” Congressman Mark Takano, the leader of the delegation, added in an email to Bloomberg, urging Japan’s parliament to consider legislation swiftly.
The first openly gay person of color to be elected to Congress, Takano is a co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.
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