Thousands of people marched in Tokyo on Sunday at the start of
Japan's first "Rainbow Week", a series of events aimed at
supporting sexual minorities.
Organisers said about 12,000 people took part in the parade, which
has been running for several years, and other events on Sunday,
part of a programme that runs until May 6.
"This is our first attempt to link up with many groups" of sexual
minorities, said one of the organisers, Hiroko Masuhara, 35. "The
parade is a symbolic event in the (Tokyo) Rainbow Week
programme."
Masuhara, who held a wedding with her partner at Tokyo Disney
Resort last month, said support for gay rights was rising in
Japan.
"We have an impression that we are seeing more women and various
nationalities of people participating in our parade in recent
years," she said.
Gay marriage has no legal standing in Japan despite growing legal
recognition elsewhere in the world.
