Japanese Legislator Comes Out At Gay Pride - 365Gay.com

Japanese Legislator Comes Out At Gay Pride
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: August 13, 2005 4:00 pm ET

(Osaka, Japan) A member of the Osaka regional Assembly announced she is a lesbian Saturday during gay pride celebrations in Tokyo.

Kanako Otsuji has been in the Osaka Prefectural Assembly since 2003 and represents a district of nearly 9 million people.

Otsuji said she had not come out earlier because she was uncertain she could win election in conservative Japan. She is only one of a handful of openly gay politician in the country.

But, she said Saturday that she decided to become public after hearing stories of the hardships faced by other closeted Japanese.

"I don't want children troubled by being homosexual experiencing the same (hardships)," she told the Kyodo news service.

"Homosexual people have often kept silent for fear of discrimination and prejudice. By declaring I'm homosexual, I would like to highlight the problems and put an end to a vicious circle of discrimination and prejudice," Otsuji said.

Otsuji, 30, is a member of the "Shuken (Sovereignty) Osaka" group of independent assembly members.

About 3,000 people celebrated gay pride Saturday with a march through Tokyo's Shibuya and Harajuku districts - the main shopping and entertainment areas of the city.



同性愛：尾辻かな子大阪府議が告白　近く自伝出版 / Lesbian politician comes out of closet