Japan’s prime minister fired his adviser after saying he didn’t want to live next to gays.
Economy and Trade Minister Fumio Kishida Masayoshi Arai said he “didn’t like it if[гей-пары]lived next door,” adding, “I don’t even want to see it.”
According to local media reports, he argued that same-sex relationships have a “significant” and negative impact on society, arguing that allowing same-sex marriage “will change the way society works” and that “quite a few people are leaving this country.” .” would.
Japan is currently the only G7 country where same-sex couples are prohibited from marrying.
In November, a Tokyo court upheld the ban but said it was a human rights violation, prompting activists to be optimistic that the law would be changed.
Arai’s comments were condemned by the Conservative prime minister on Saturday, who called them “outrageous and totally inconsistent with government policy.”
Later that day, the Japanese leader said he had fired Mr. Arai, who had previously apologized for Friday’s “misleading” comments.
The incident has embarrassed Mr. Kishida as Japan prepares to host the final G7 summit in Hiroshima in May.
LGBT activists said on Saturday that Arai’s comments show the need for “anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)”.
The comments are “strongly at odds with what many in the community see as appropriate,” said a spokesman for the National Association for Lawmaking for People with Difficulties based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
They added that many LGBT+ dignitaries and staff will visit Japan during the G7 summit. watch the G7 countries.
In a poll released by NHK in July 2021, two months before Kishida became prime minister, 57 percent of 1,508 respondents said they supported legal recognition of same-sex partnerships.
Mr Kishida told Parliament that same-sex marriage should be carefully considered because of its potential impact on family structure.
Taiwan is currently the only country in East Asia that allows same-sex marriage.
Source: I News
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