Japan's Democratic Party fields Lesbian candidate

Japan's main opposition party is fielding an openly lesbian candidate for July's upper house elections, in an unprecedented move for the country's conservative political world.

The Democratic Party has endorsed 32-year-old Kanako Otsuji, a former local assemblywoman and outspoken campaigner for gay and other minority rights.

An official at her office says it's the first time a national political party has officially fielded an openly gay person.

"I am very grateful to the Democratic Party for giving me this chance," Ms Otsuji said in a message on her Web site