Japan’s main ruling party approved a watered-down version of a bill on “promoting understanding” of the LGBTQ community, in apparent haste to show progress on the issue days before the country hosts the Group of Seven leaders’ summit.
(Bloomberg) — Japan’s main ruling party approved a watered-down version of a bill on “promoting understanding” of the LGBTQ community, in apparent haste to show progress on the issue days before the country hosts the Group of Seven leaders’ summit.
The Liberal Democratic Party approved the measure Tuesday, general affairs chair Toshiaki Endo told reporters. The revised bill weakens a previous reference to discrimination not being tolerated, instead saying only “unfair” discrimination shouldn’t be allowed. The party is aiming to submit the legislation to parliament before the summit starts on Friday.
Read: Why Japan Is Mulling a Baby Step Toward LGBTQ Rights: QuickTake
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had come under pressure from other members of G-7 to show unity on promoting equality for sexual minorities by moving forward on the bill ahead of the summit that runs through the weekend in his hometown of Hiroshima. His country is the only one of the seven not to recognize same-sex unions or offer legal protection against discrimination.
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