The Japanese Prime Minister called his remarks “scandalous”. Fumio Kishida sacked one of his secretaries on Saturday for homophobic comments. Fumio Kishida said Masayoshi Arai’s remarks – in which he said he “didn’t even want to look at” married gay couples – were “scandalous” and “inconsistent” with the inclusive society his government aimed for.
“I have taken the decision to relieve him of his post as secretary,” Kishida told reporters. On Friday, Masayoshi Arai said he “wouldn’t like them [les homosexuels] live near his home. People “would abandon the country if we allowed same-sex marriage,” he added, according to state broadcaster NHK.
No recognition of gay marriage
The 55-year-old later apologized, saying his remarks were inappropriate, even though it was his personal opinion. The dismissal is another blow to the Japanese government, whose approval ratings have plummeted since last year after the withdrawal of four ministers in three months over allegations of financial irregularities or links to the controversial Unification Church.
Japan is the only nation in the group of seven most industrialized countries that does not recognize same-sex unions. Its 1947 Constitution states that “marriage shall be based solely on the mutual consent of both sexes” and “with equal rights for husband and wife”.
An “unconstitutional situation”
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister stressed to Parliament that same-sex marriage “would affect society” and that MPs should therefore be “extremely careful in considering this issue”. More than a dozen couples have filed lawsuits in district courts across Japan, arguing that the ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitution.
In November, a Tokyo court said the country’s failure to legally protect same-sex partners created an “unconstitutional situation” – while ruling that the Constitution’s definition of marriage was legal.