The landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court last June to legalize same-sex marriage across the country has propelled the movement to protect the rights of LGBT people in other parts of the globe. The Nikkei Asian Review spoke with U.S. Congressman Mark Takano, the first openly gay non-white member of Congress.
Why did you decide to come out? Politically it was not a decision I made; it was made by my opponent in the general election, who made my sexuality an issue in 1994. Strictly speaking, the Republicans didn't come right out and attack me as a homosexual, but their mailers clearly implied it. One was colored pink and lavender and questioned whether I'd be a good representative. From that point on, most people in the political world assumed I was gay, though I didn't really come out and say, "I'm gay."
