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© KYODOLawmaker Sugita retracts past remarks on LGBT, other minorities
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© KYODO
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Stephen Chin
She has apologised. Let's not accept her apology. It is not sincere because
she wants to hold on to her job.
Capuchin
Has the leopard changed its spots? Doubtful. More likely she has her eyes on eventually taking her turn in revolving door LDP premiership.
Pukey2
This excuse of a woman is a nasty vile person. No sincerity in her 'apology'. I bet her views are just the same. Some of the worst homophobes, racists and misogynists in the LDP can be women.
Yotomaya
This, and judging one's right to happiness depending on their ability to create people is dehumanising.
What she said was vile and unless she openly support same-sex marriage and the integration of minorities, her apologies mean nothing.
Thomas Twatt
(You might want to check the meaning of the English words ‘produce’ and ‘offspring’, champ.)
TT
Jimizo
I’m not so sure. Politicians are opportunistic and will pander to certain sections of the electorate - bigots can vote. I would say that anyone who spouts bile like this for opportunistic reasons is a low life. The other group tend to be male religious scammers who hiss at LGBT people and are later found in hotel rooms with hard drugs and male prostitutes. The idea about protesting too much can often be true.
What this does show is that homophobia is becoming less and less acceptable in Japan, as are unpleasant descriptions of ethnic minorities. Time is up on this trash.
I’d wager same-sex marriage will be instituted in Japan within 5-10 years.
Those against it are becoming increasingly irrelevant.
blue in green
By the same token, many "presentable" opinions have stark differences
in private.
Actions are what matter.
She didn't have to, then.
When censorship of free speech is present, what is actually presented is not truth.
shogun36
iIdon’t think it works that way, Sugi…….you got a live mic and say stupid things to the public, it’s out there. For life.
M3M3M3
One way or another this will be government policy. The introduction of generous subsidies and tax breaks for parents is inevitable as politicians try to solve the demographic crisis. Statistically, most sexual minorities will end up subsidising heterosexual families.
TokyoLiving
Homophobic losers have no place in this 21st century..
Aly Rustom
So is your average Salaryman and OL. And pretty much MOST of the Japanese population.
Well said.
Exactly!
She fits PERFECTLY in the LDP- a party that is every bit as liberal and democratic as the Democratic Republic of North Korea is democratic.
blue in green
One’s opinion is free speech.
Being made to apologize for it, is censorship.
I remember when speaking honestly made people less tense, and there was more humor about everything.
Now the world walks on eggshells...
nakanoguy01
Her remarks were made years ago. Why didn't she apologize and retract them then? Kishida will only appear weak by forcing her to do this. He is cleaning up Abe's mess but only encourages more detractors who smell blood.
Meiyouwenti
It’s shocking that a member of Parliament who’s serving as a vice minister made such gross, discriminatory, homophonic remarks. On the other hand, how many of you can deny the fact that LGBTs can’t produce offspring? She just stated the truth, though she should have said it in a more appropriate way.
u_s__reamer
Narrowmindedness and lack of empathy are characteristics common to most career politicians of all stripes and in all countries at all times and Sugita fits this profile to a T for sure. Their chameleon positions can quickly shift in order to appeal to the prejudices of the electorate and exploit the latter's gullibility, which is why, as a class, they are so very hard to stomach. Only time will tell just how many grains of salt are required to take her mea culpa.
dbsaiya
If you read her bio, she's tried several times to get into public office and failed but it wasn't until she latched onto sweet daddy Abe that she got elected. Her apology means nothing it was only to save big boss Kishida's popularity from sinking even more. She's a racist and homophobic, at best.
dagon
Would she say that about Japanese representatives dressed in kimono?
Ms. Sugita is an ignorant ****.
Oh, I apologize and retract that....
purple_depressed_bacon
I doubt any sincerity came with her apology. She's made multiple racist, homophobic, discriminatory remarks - that's what we call a pattern.
Moonraker
Are her retractions sincere though. You don't coldly spew bile without it being part of your very identity.
kurisupisu
All too often the politicos in Tokyo utter discriminatory and racist drivel.
What are they thinking and saying in private?
Unfortunately, without laws on offensive and discriminatory public speech Japan will never become a world player.