Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel in Tokyo's Minato Ward Sayuri Ide, U.S., during an interview with the Asahi Shimbun on March 30. When he was mayor of Chicago and a key Democratic Party member, Rahm Emanuel worked on issues of promoting the human rights of LGBT people and same-sex marriages.
Earlier in January 2022, he said, progress among local governments has been made on the issues.
Japan's stances of gender equality and same-sex marriage will again be asked into question when it hosts the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima on May 19th.
Emanuel spoke to the Asahi Shimbun on March 30 in Tokyo about the issues.
Japan is the only G - 7 nation that has not legalized same-sex marriage and has not introduced a nationwide partnership system that guarantees same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples.
However, some local governments have introduced such partnerships, with the populations of these municipalities accounting for more than 60 percent of the total population.
In February, the Asahi Shimbun conducted a poll in which 72 percent ofsurveyed voters said same-sex marriages should be recognized. Public opinion is way ahead of elected leaders, Emanuel said, adding that he hopes the national government will catch up with local governments and the public.
After the Japanese Constitution is clear about no discrimination, the political system needs to catch up with both the Constitution and civil society, he said. Emanuel cited the long political processes in the United States over issues such as the Don t Tell policy during the administration of former President Bill Clinton and the legalization of same-sex marriage under the administration of former President Barack Obama.
It will take time and many detours to achieve full equality for sexual minorities in Japan, he said.
There's not really gay marriage, Emanuel said.
He added that society should support a place of love rather than spending political energy to fight it.
If two people love each other and want to build a home together, he said, unless it is really disturbing to you, that is something you should support.