A non-partisan group of Japanese lawmakers has confirmed its plan to seek the enactment of a bill for LGBT people by the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima in May. The legislation is designed to facilitate the understanding of such individuals.

The group held its first general meeting on Wednesday since Prime Minister Kishida Fumio dismissed one of his secretaries for making discriminatory remarks against same-sex couples earlier this month.

About 30 Diet legislators attended the gathering, including members of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the largest opposition Constitutional Democratic Party.

The group's new leader, former Defense Minister Iwaya Takeshi of the LDP, said people are paying keen attention to how the state and the Diet will work on the issue.

The group compiled the bill in 2021. But some LDP members are opposing the wording in it that translates as "discrimination is unforgivable."

The acting chairperson of the LDP's Policy Research Council is cautious about the content of the bill. Last week, he said society will be divided if discrimination against LGBT people is banned.

Iwaya told reporters after the meeting that he is convinced unfair discrimination must not happen. He said he will work hard so that future discussions will proceed based on the belief.

CDP Executive Deputy President Nishimura Chinami is a member of the group. Nishimura said that when she considers her party position, she strongly wants the Diet to enact another bill submitted jointly by the party and other opposition forces to eliminate discrimination against LGBT people. But she added she wants to push forward the group's bill for now.

Japan remains the only G7 country that does not legally recognize same-sex marriage or same-sex civil unions.