In a shocking display of transphobia and disdain for LGBTQ+ rights, Xue Jian, the consul general of the People’s Republic of China in Osaka, Japan, posted a highly controversial tweet in which he claimed that transgender individuals are a “deformity” and that LGBTQ+ rights will lead to the collapse of Western civilisation.
The tweet by Xue Jian shared on June 14 read, “I don’t mean to discriminate against sexual minorities, but tampering with gender is a deformity, not the evolution of human civilisation. Now it is clear that the absolute minority is effectively forcing us, the absolute majority. It goes against the basics of majority democracy that the West has long advocated. Ultimately, this is the beginning of the collapse of the Western-style view of civilisation that has swept the world over the last several hundred years.”
The timing of Xue Jian’s tweet is significant as Japan faces increasing pressure to expand rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Notably, Japan remains the only G7 nation yet to legalise same-sex marriage.
On May 30, a Japanese court ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, despite Prime Minister Fumio Kishida asserting that the ban is not discriminatory. The court’s ruling was met with relief and validation by advocates who have long fought for marriage equality.
Public support for same-sex marriage in Japan is also evident, with around 69 percent of the population favouring its legalisation, according to Equaldex data. However, progress on LGBTQ+ rights has been slow. On June 16, Japan introduced a diluted bill to promote understanding of the LGBTQ+ community. Originally intended to be passed before the G7 leaders’ summit, the bill faced delays due to concerns over its wording. Activists worry that the revised language may inadvertently enable discrimination instead of combating it, raising doubts about the bill’s effectiveness.
While Japan grapples with the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights, Xue Jian’s tweet adds fuel to the ongoing debate. The offensive remarks from a Chinese official not only display a lack of respect for the transgender community but also reinforce harmful stereotypes. The incident highlights the importance of continued advocacy and education to foster inclusivity and combat discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in Japan and worldwide.
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