News Kishida fires aide over anti-LGBTQ comments

[thomas]

That won't do the historically low approval ratings any good: PM Kishida fired a close aide over discriminatory remarks about sexual minorities. Arai Masayoshi, an elite bureaucrat who served as executive secretary to the prime minister, had said he would "not want to live next door" to an LGBT couple and that he would "hate even to see them."

Before the retraction, Arai had said that if same-sex marriage is introduced in Japan, it would "change the way society is" and "there are quite a few people who would abandon this country." Arai made the remarks during an off-the-record conversation with reporters at the Prime Minister's Office regarding Kishida's cautious position about legally recognizing same-sex marriage. "We need to be extremely careful in considering the matter as it could affect the structure of family life in Japan," the prime minister said at a parliamentary session in late January.

Sad to see how some of Japan's elite bureaucrats think about sexual minorities.

Kishida fires senior aide over homophobic comments

Masayoshi Arai, the now-dismissed executive secretary to the prime minister, said he would "not want to live next door" to an LGBT couple.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Kishida sacks close aide Arai for anti-LGBT comments | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[Grandpa Frank]

How people here in Maine were in the 50's.

 

[thomas]

Nice to see that most people interviewed by JT condemn Arai's comments. An openly gay member of the House of Councilors, Taiga Ishikawa, said the situation was "beyond one's patience" on Twitter and that Arai had also noted that all of Kishida's executive secretaries are against same-sex marriage. More heads to roll?

Japanese express anger and concern after Kishida aide's anti-LGBT remarks

Members of the public, the LGBT community and opposition party lawmakers lambasted the aide, who was fired Saturday, for saying that he would "not want to live next door" to an LGBT couple.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Lothor]

It seems a strange time for the homophobes in the LDP to be coming out with their views. We've just had a major scandal revealing that many people in the party have close links with a dodgy religion that has 'encouraged' them to make such comments. Surely many people hearing these comments are going to conclude that they are in the pocket of the Unification Church?

 

[thomas]

Perhaps internal conflicts between the die-hard traditionalists and the more liberal-minded conservatives? Whatever we may say about Kishida, he belongs to the latter.

What would be the purpose of such a comment, even if off the record?

 

[mdchachi]

It seems a strange time for the homophobes in the LDP to be coming out with their views. We've just had a major scandal revealing that many people in the party have close links with a dodgy religion that has 'encouraged' them to make such comments. Surely many people hearing these comments are going to conclude that they are in the pocket of the Unification Church?

That didn't even occur to me. I just assumed they are bigoted.

 

[Lothor]

That didn't even occur to me. I just assumed they are bigoted.

Oh, they are! But "You're just saying that because you're in the pay of the Moonies!" is such an easy response!

 

[thomas]

Surprisingly critical and progressive tones from the LDP's junior coalition partner: Yamaguchi Natsuo, leader of Komeito, condemned the homophobic comments of PM Kishida's former key aide, saying that his remarks were the polar opposite of the tide of accepting diversity and creating an inclusive society. People in the prime minister's office, including Kishida, should listen to the voices of LGBT people.

He said considering that the discriminatory comments were made by the prime minister's close aide, "(Kishida) should take seriously the fact that such remarks were made by someone close to (him). The prime minister, himself, should share his understanding (on these issues) with his staff members." Kishida should also show a stance of accepting diversity and sexual minorities, Yamaguchi added. He also criticized the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for its inaction regarding a bill "to promote an understanding of LGBT people," for which some cross-party lawmakers have lobbied. "The LDP hasn't responded to discussions aimed at passage of the bill," he said.

Komeito leader blasts former key Kishida aide over LGBT put-down | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis