PM Fumio Kishida Fires Aide Over Gay Couples: Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida removed one of his aides from his post on Saturday (February 4) for using abusive language for transgender couples. His colleague had said that he does not want to live with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender couple. He had also given a warning that if same-sex marriages were allowed, people would run away from Japan. However, this employee, who was posted as secretary in the PM’s staff, later apologised.
‘Comments made on transgender are ridiculous’
Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida said in a broadcast broadcast by public broadcaster NHK, “His comments are outrageous, ridiculous and do not match with the policies of the administration.” Kishida had said that he could sack Arai.
In fact, PM Kishida had said in Parliament that gay marriage needed careful consideration because of its potential impact on family structure. Secretary Arai made “misleading” comments after the Japanese PM said this. Then PM. Although later he apologized for this.
Arai’s comments were an embarrassment to Kishida as Japan prepares to host other leaders of the Group of Seven G-7 nations in May. Apart from Japan, which has been ruled by the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for the past seven decades, the rest of the G7 approve of marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples.
This can have an impact on the support the Japanese PM gets from the public. This can reduce it. According to recent opinion polls, support for the PM has come down by almost 30 per cent since last year following a series of resignations by senior officials.
‘Does not want to see transgender couple’
According to Japanese local media, economy and trade official Masayoshi Arai joined Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s staff as secretary in October. He had said that he does not even want to see the transgender couple.
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