The Liberal Democratic Party's panel on issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity unveiled its basic position in a report released in late April. In view of the party's stance expressed not long ago concerning the difficulties confronting LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) people, a close watch is needed to see whether the LDP's approach is convincing and effective.
The panel calls for legislation to be drawn up that would deepen understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity but doesn't legally ban discrimination against LGBT people.
Shortly before the Lower House election in 2014, a citizens' group based in Ehime Prefecture surveyed political parties to ask whether they thought problems faced by LGBT people should be dealt with as human rights issues. The LDP stood out among the parties in replying that there was no need to view their difficulties in this light. A glance at the LDP panel's report indicates that, in principle, the party's stance has not changed much.
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