Japan's main opposition party says it plans to submit to the Diet the original version of a nonpartisan bill aimed at promoting understanding of the LGBTQ community. It criticized the reworded version that was approved by the governing coalition.
The leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan Izumi Kenta conveyed the party's intention to US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday. Izumi said the revised version marks a retreat from the original bill.
Last week, Emanuel posted a video on Twitter. The clip was titled "A Message of Support for LGBTQI+ Rights from Diplomatic Missions in Japan." Envoys from 15 missions voiced opposition to discrimination in the video.
Izumi told reporters after the meeting that LGBTQ people are expressing disappointment and despair about the revised bill. He added that many have said they do not want it to be enacted.
A nonpartisan group of lawmakers drafted the original bill two years ago.
But the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito approved revisions to it on Wednesday. They said that they intend to submit the reworded bill to the Diet as early as Thursday.