Japan PM dismisses aide over anti-LGBTQ+ comments

TOKYO, Feb 05 (Al Jazeera) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has dismissed one of his secretaries for homophobic comments that the prime minister called “outrageous”.

Kishida said the remarks by Masayoshi Arai, in which he said he “doesn’t even want to look at” married same-sex couples, were “outrageous” and “incompatible” with an inclusive society the government is aiming for.

“I made the decision to relieve him of his position as secretary,” Kishida told reporters on Saturday.

On Friday, Arai, an economy and trade official who joined Kishida’s staff as a secretary in October, said he “wouldn’t like it if they lived next door” and that people would “abandon the country if we allow same-sex marriage”, according to public broadcaster NHK.

The 55-year-old apologised later, saying his remarks were not appropriate, even if they were his personal opinion. ...continue reading

Source: ANNnewsCH

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