As a Member of Osaka Prefectural Assembly she disclosed that she is a lesbian in hopes that her action will help to encourage the gay community. Ms. Otsuji is the only openly gay or lesbian elected official in Japan. She did tell the group that few Japanese live their lives as openly gay people. In fact Tokyo, a city of over 8.5 million only had 3,500 showed up for their pride parade, a crowd that is similar to Buffalo's pride celebration.

Ms. Kanako Otsuji (age 30), a member of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly, "comes out" in a book she that she authored. The book was published just this month. Two years ago, Ms. Otsuji was elected as the youngest member of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly. Ms. Otsuji was quoted as saying that her activism in the Assembly and desire to frame gay and lesbian issues as human right issues "gave (her) the confidence to disclose (herself) as a lesbian."

Since she was elected in April 2003, she has taken up minority issues at the Assembly's general interpellation, to include gay and lesbian rights. Specifically, she has asked the prefectural government to set up a counselor service window for gays and lesbians. She told her supporters that she would "like to encourage people who are exposed to discrimination and prejudice to live as they are." She is happy that she has finally found the strength to do so. Her book "Coming Out - A Journey to Find Myself" will be published by Kodansha Ltd., Publishers.

The group discussed how U.S. law protects the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals, "gay marriage" registration. As well as how openly gay people are treated by society in communities in Western New York.

Ms. Otsuji will also be visiting Seattle, Austin and San Francisco.   —Staff