Japan’s first openly gay politician wins seat

Taiga Ishikawa has become Japan’s first openly gay politician after winning a seat in the Tokyo ward assembly in local elections on Sunday.

Stacey Cosens

news.PinkPaper.com
Thursday, 17 May 2012
26 April 2011
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Japan Flagstacey Taiga Ishikawa has become Japan’s first openly gay politician after winning a seat in the Tokyo ward assembly in local elections on Sunday.

Speaking to AFP he said: "I hope my election victory will help our fellows nationwide to have hope for tomorrow, as many of them cannot accept themselves, feel lonely and isolated and even commit suicide,"

"Many LGBTs, or sexual minorities, realise the fact when they are at elementary and junior high schools, many of which are operated by the municipality,"

"As a ward assembly member, I would like to reinforce support to LGBT children at schools."

Ishikawa revealed he was gay in his book "Boku No Kareshi Wa Doko Ni Iru" (Where Is My Boyfriend?),"published in 2002.

The Toshima race saw 53 candidates compete for 36 seats.

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- 27/04/2011 16:14:57

Wait... Do I have a gendered title? *Checks* D:

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- 26/04/2011 14:35:43

Typo: "Not only are they" -- "Not only are there".

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- 26/04/2011 14:34:35

Taiga is not the first openly gay politician in Japan. Not only are they and have been closeted LGBT politicians, Kanako Otsuji, former Osaka Prefectural Assembly member, has been out as lesbian for quite a long time. Aya Kamikawa, member of the Setagaya ward assembly recently elected for her 4-year term for the second time, is a transgendered politician. Simple googling for "LGBT politician Japan" will give you enough information about them. I highly recommend researching before publishing. Also, I signed up for a PinkPaper account today and noticed that "Title" is one of the required information where Mr., Mrs., Miss, Dev., Prof., etc. are the only options, leaving no gender-neutral, non-professional options available to individuals who want to sign up. As a gay news website as you call yourself, I really hope that you'll stop requiring/forcing non-professional potential members of yours to choose a gendered title for themselves.

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