Asahi took up a statement released on Monday by a group of sexual minority activists demanding LDP Executive Council Chairman Takeshita apologize for and retract his remarks expressing opposition to the invitation to the same sex partner of a state guest to a dinner hosted by the Emperor and the Empress. It denounced the senior lawmaker’s statement as a declaration that same sex couples are inferior to opposite sex couples.

The daily added that the opposition camp took issue with a series of controversial remarks made recently by ruling party Diet members, including former Minister of Regional Revitalization Yamamoto, who commented on a fellow LDP politician known for his active exchanges with African nations by saying: “Why does he like blacks to that extent?” Opposition officials criticized Yamamoto for being “ignorant of human rights.”