>From: "David B. O'Donnell" >Date: Mon, 20 Jun 1994 08:41:14 -0400 > From: International Gay Lesbian Human Rights Commission New Foreign Minister of Japan Defames Lesbians and Gays Koji Kakizawa, leader of the Liberal Party and the current Foreign Minister of Japan, recently made defamatory statements against lesbians and gays. Politely worded letters of protest are needed to seek an apology and clarification from the relevant Japanese government officials. When discussing the naming of the Liberal Party, an event that transpired during his tenure as Chair Person of that group, he stated, "It is possible that by calling ourselves simply liberals we can be mistaken for liberals like the ones in America who approve of homos and drugs. ... We would have liked to have called ourselves New Liberals or New Conservatives." The comments were quoted by the May issue of Shokun! magazine. Letters are needed making the following points: 1. Recent declarations and recommendations from such bodies as the United Nations and the European Parliament make clear the emerging international consensus that lesbians and gays should always be treated with equality and respect. That such a high ranking Japanese government official could make such a statement reflects badly on Japan's standing in the international community of nations. 2. Government officials in Japan, and specifically the Liberal Party, have a responsibility to distance themselves from the sentiments of Mr. Koji Kakizawa by publicly declaring their intention to treat lesbian and gay issues as the human rights matter that they are. 3. Mr. Koji Kakizawa owes Japanese lesbians and gays, and human rights advocates everywhere, an apology. Write to: Mr. Koji Kakizawa, Foreign Minister of Japan, c/o of the Department of Foreign Affairs, 2-2-1 Kasumigascki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, JAPAN; FAX: +81-3-3502-5023 Mr. Tsutomu Hata, Prime Minister, Prime Minster's Official Residence, 2-3-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, JAPAN; fax: +81-3-3502-5080 The Liberal Party, 704 Juzen Building, 2-9-6 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, JAPAN