As sports fans count down to the start of the Tokyo Olympics in July, the eyes of LGBTQ activists are firmly focused on the Diet, or Japan's legislature, with the goal of using the global spotlight to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning and queer people.
More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling on the government to pass an LGBTQ equality law before the games open on July 23 to honor their key themes of celebrating "unity in diversity" and "passing on legacy for the future."
"We have seen through history the power of the Olympics to mobilize athletes and fans to speak out for what they believe in," said Hudson Taylor, founder of Athlete Ally, a U.S.-based advocacy group backing the petition.