The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided not to submit to the current Diet session a cross-party bill to promote greater awareness among the public of LGBT people.
The decision was made amid difficulties in reaching a consensus among LDP lawmakers, with some conservative factions voicing strong objection to the bill and stalling the approval process at the party's General Council.
Tsutomu Sato, chairman of the council and one of the party's highest ranking officials, said at a news conference after a panel meeting it would be impossible to pass the bill before the end of the ordinary Diet session on June 16 given the current split in opinions.