- Japan lawmakers have come under fire after rights activists accused them of violing the Olympic spirit.
- This comes after the "resist the preservation of the species" homophobic remarks about same-sex relationships were made, by Kazuo Yana.
- A new anti-discrimination bill was being tabled and a lot of discussions sparked a backlash from members of the LGBTQI+ community.
Rights activists have accused ruling lawmakers in Japan of violating the Olympic spirit with homophobic remarks that included saying same-sex relationships "resist the preservation of the species".
The comments - made during discussions on a new anti-discrimination bill - have sparked a backlash as Japan prepares to host the virus-postponed Games in two months' time.
Kazuo Yana from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said during a meeting on Thursday that LGBTQI+ relationships "resist the preservation of the species, which should happen biologically", the Asahi Shimbun daily reported.
Fellow LDP member Eriko Yamatani also hit out at transgender athletes at the closed-door meeting, according to Jiji Press.
She reportedly said:
Broadcaster TBS and other Japanese media also quoted an unnamed lawmaker as saying that LGBTQI+ sexualities "can't be accepted in a moral way".
Pride House Tokyo - a community hub officially recognised as part of the Olympic programme - criticised the remarks in a joint statement Saturday with US-based campaign group Athlete Ally.
"These comments, if true, are in violation of the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics which Tokyo is hoping to host," they said.
"How can athletes truly feel safe playing in a country where a member of the ruling party makes such discriminatory remarks?" added Pride House Tokyo's director Gon Matsunaka.
Another Japanese rights group that is supporting the new bill has called the reported remarks "extremely regrettable".
The Olympic charter states that "every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind".
Tokyo 2020 organising committee chief Seiko Hashimoto - appointed in February after her predecessor was forced to resign over sexist comments - has pushed for greater gender equality at the Games.
Pride House Tokyo opened a permanent meeting space and information centre in central Tokyo in October.
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