TOKYO — Japanese LGBTQ rights advocates announced the launch of a new G-7 engagement group dedicated to protecting sexual minorities on Wednesday, ahead of the annual leaders’ summit in Hiroshima in May. Pride7 is the first Group of Seven focus group for the advancement of LGBTQ rights and will hold its inaugural summit on March 30 in Tokyo. The gathering will feature advocacy groups from all G-7 member states, the European Union and countries across the Global South, including Thailand and Vietnam. Founded by three of the leading organizations for LGBTQ rights in Japan — Marriage for All Japan, the Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation and Human Rights Watch — Pride7 aims to establish a forum for dialogue between civic groups and G-7 governments to promote LGBTQ-related policies. Pride7 will start out as an unofficial engagement group, alongside the G-7’s seven existing official interest groups, which cover issues ranging from female empowerment to scientific advancement. All of the groups are set to hold summits in Japan this year.