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# Japan accused of violating Olympic charter over LGBTQ+ rights
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/japan-accused-of-violating-olympic-charter-over-lgbtq-rights/
- Published: 2021-05-27T13:42:45.000Z
- Updated: 2021-05-27T13:42:45.000Z
- Description: Japan has failed to pass a bill to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Human Rights Watch, japan, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ equality, Tokyo Olympics

![](https://www.gscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/tokyo-olympics-600-400.jpg)

Japan’s ruling party has been accused of violating the Olympic charter after failing to pass a bill to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens. In March, a [petition](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/petition-calls-for-lgbtq-equality-in-japan/) with over 106,000 signatures has been sent to the government to call for LGBTQ+ equality before the **Tokyo Olympics** **.** However, lawmakers have subsequently decided to postpone an equality bill, according to [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/24/japan-ruling-party-accused-of-violating-olympic-charter-over-lgbt-rights?ref=scenemag.co.uk).

As a result, the **Human Rights Watch (HRW)** [said](https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/05/21/gold-medal-homophobia-japan?ref=scenemag.co.uk) the government deserved a *“gold medal for homophobia”,* and noted that LGBTQ+ equality was a core part of the Olympic charter. During a meeting regarding a potential equality bill, government advisor **Koji Shigeuchi,** criticised Japan’s LGBTQ+ community, saying: *“LGBT goes against the preservation of the human race.”* The HRW encouraged leaders to *“override their ugly rhetoric and pass the Equality Act immediately.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/equality-act-japan-lgbt-rights-600-400.jpg)

Japan currently ranks among the lowest among OECD (an international economic organisation) countries for LGBTQ+ equality. Although a district court [recently ruled](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/japanese-court-rules-same-sex-marriage-ban-is-unconstitutional/) that criminalising same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, it continues to be outlawed in the country. LGBTQ+ people also have no legal protections from discrimination.