- Title: JAPAN: Thousands celebrate Japan's annual gay parade
- Date: 20th August 2007
- Summary: MAN WEARING LEOPARD LEOTARD MAKING SEDUCTIVE MOVES IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA HALF-NAKED MAN IN TIGHT BLACK LEATHER SHORTS BONDAGE BELTS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TAKASHI NAKADA, PARADE ORGANIZER, SAYING: "In Japanese society, many gay and lesbian people still hesitate to come out. We hope many straight people watch this parade today and find out that gays and lesb
- Embargoed: 4th September 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVACPZ0249ITNBQZ5DYBCNAQOO9R
- Story Text: Thousands celebrate Japan's annual gay parade.
Gays and lesbians march on the streets of Tokyo in a bid to break into Japan's mainstream.
Nearly 3,000 Japanese gays and lesbians took to the streets of downtown Tokyo on Saturday (August 11), hoping to make their presence felt and their voices heard in one of Asia's largest gay parades.
This year's Tokyo Pride Parade, an annual march that started six years ago, came at a time when some gay and lesbian people have taken the challenge to get into the mainstream Japanese society by running in local and national elections. Some have also become loveable "gay characters" who often appear on entertainment and other programs on national television.
"We are here today to show our unity as gays and lesbians are scattered all over Japan and those of us living in rural areas often feel isolated and are unable to do things together," said a male marcher wearing a red costume, who called himself as "Zero".
Many of the participants also called for a change in the law in Japan to recognize same sex partnerships.
"Unlike some other countries, in Japan, same-sex couples are not officially recognized as spouses or domestic partners," said a female participant, who called herself "Joe". "This is causing a serious problem because we can never treat our partners as family members - especially when they are sick or dead."
Japan does not allow same sex unions and authorities often prevent Japanese nationals from trying to enter into a partnership with a foreigner.
Organizers hoped that the parade would help people both straight and gay realize that the gay community in Japan is a vibrant and happy one.
"In Japanese society, many gay and lesbian people still hesitate to come out. We hope many straight people watch this parade today and find out that gays and lesbians are out there, naturally, just like straight people," said parade organizer Takashi Nakada.
Parade organizers estimate that some 3 million gay and lesbian people live in Japan, out of a total population of about 120 million.
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