July 24, 2018
Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives Sugita Mio, in an article published in the August issue of the conservative monthly magazine "Shincho 45", wrote regarding sexual minority couples that these people are "not productive" because they "produce no children".
Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on July 23 held a press conference in the Diet building and criticized her for being "ignorant and laden with prejudices and for making malicious remarks" against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Koike demanded that Sugita retract her remark and apologize, if not, resign her Lower House seat.
Sugita in the magazine wrote, "I wonder if using tax money on LGBT couples can win public approval. They do not produce children, that is, they lack productivity."
According to her tweet on Twitter, she has "received several encouraging words from ministerial level LDP legislators", implying that some LDP politicians agree with her view.
Koike said, "The use of the expression 'not productive' as a characterization completely denies individual dignity. Her qualification as a Dietmember should be called into question."
Koike emphasized the need to reveal who defended Sugita's discriminatory remarks by saying, "This is not just a matter of her stating a personal opinion. The LDP should be held responsible for having endorsed this person as a Dietmember in the national election."
Past related articles:
> LGBT-rights group asks JCP for cooperation in building discrimination-free society [August 30, 2017]
> 4 opposition parties jointly submit bill to eliminate discrimination against LGBT [May 28, 2016]
> JCP Ikeuchi calls for enactment of law to protect LGBT human rights [May 8 & 9, 2016]
Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on July 23 held a press conference in the Diet building and criticized her for being "ignorant and laden with prejudices and for making malicious remarks" against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Koike demanded that Sugita retract her remark and apologize, if not, resign her Lower House seat.
Sugita in the magazine wrote, "I wonder if using tax money on LGBT couples can win public approval. They do not produce children, that is, they lack productivity."
According to her tweet on Twitter, she has "received several encouraging words from ministerial level LDP legislators", implying that some LDP politicians agree with her view.
Koike said, "The use of the expression 'not productive' as a characterization completely denies individual dignity. Her qualification as a Dietmember should be called into question."
Koike emphasized the need to reveal who defended Sugita's discriminatory remarks by saying, "This is not just a matter of her stating a personal opinion. The LDP should be held responsible for having endorsed this person as a Dietmember in the national election."
Past related articles:
> LGBT-rights group asks JCP for cooperation in building discrimination-free society [August 30, 2017]
> 4 opposition parties jointly submit bill to eliminate discrimination against LGBT [May 28, 2016]
> JCP Ikeuchi calls for enactment of law to protect LGBT human rights [May 8 & 9, 2016]
