Japan Press Weekly

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2018 August 1 - 7 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Cross-party local LGBT lawmakers urge Sugita to apologize for her ‘unproductive’ remark

A cross-party league of local LGBT lawmakers on August 3 published a statement demanding that Liberal Democratic Party Dietmember Sugita Mio retract and offer an apology for her assertion that LGBT couples are “unproductive”.

The statement pointed out that the LDP claimed that it admonished Sugita, but she only issued a comment in which she said that she will take the criticism seriously. The local lawmakers’ league in its statement said that what Sugita wrote in an article for a monthly magazine inflicted harm not only on sexual minorities but also on a wide range of people such as people who are unable to achieve economic independence due to disabilities, illnesses and other reasons. The group urged Sugita to apology for making the remark.

Regarding frequent sexist remarks by LDP lawmakers, including LDP Lower House member Tanigawa Tomu who said that same-sex relations is like having a hobby, the statement points out that this revealed that the roots of gender bias run deep within the LDP. The statement went on to state that the ruling party should seriously listen to the voices of LGBT people and concerned citizens.

Past related articles:
> LGBT communities protest against LDP lawmaker’s ‘unproductive’ remark [ July 25, 2018]
> Sexist LDP lawmaker should apologize or resign: JCP Koike [ July 24, 2018]