On September 3rd, Tomomi Higashi, a member of the municipal assembly of the Tokyo suburb of Machida, came out as asexual and non-binary gender. “I am a sexual minority,” she posted on her twitter and facebook account.

The asexual and non-binary lawmaker was elected for the first time this February, winning the second most votes. She asked about the city’s plan for measures on LGBT+ rights at the regular sessions this March and this June. “I had believed for a long time that I couldn’t be in love with anyone because there was something very important as a human missing in me,” she said at the regular session this September. “I could start accepting my sexuality and gender orientation because I had a chance to meet and talk with LGBT+ experts,” she added, suggesting that there should be more chances for LGBT+ people living in Machida to consult with experts. At the end of the session, she also declared herself non-binary gender.

The total number of lawmakers who openly come out as a sexual minority was nine. Kanako Otsuji(House of Representatives), Kunihiro Maeda of Bunkyo Ward, Aya Kamikawa of Setagaya Ward, Wataru Ishizaka of Nakano Ward, Taiga Ishikawa of Toshima Ward, Tomoya Hosoda of Iruma City, Izumi Hosaka of Nemuro City, Takao Tateuchi of Takigawa City, and Akihiro Ohara of Nagaokakyo City. Tomomi Higashi is the 10th and the first lawmaker who openly comes out as asexual and non-binary gender.

09/04/2018