(Ms. Akie Abe on the right. Photo source.)
The Tokyo Rainbow Pride, which I talked about last year on this blog, marked its 3rd anniversary on April 27, 2014. Its commercialization and increasingly neoliberal, militarist, and conservative crystallization of LGBT politics have become almost intolerably, grotesquely obvious. I could go on and on about sponsorships and participation of embassies and corporations at the Pride, but today I am so devastated by the participation of Prime Minister Abe’s wife, Ms. Akie Abe at the Pride, that I am almost in a shock state.
Of course, many individuals responded positively, affirming Ms. Abe’s action despite Prime Minister Abe’s right-wing inclinations. But there are quite a few tweets responding negatively. And it’s important for us to reassure ourselves that not all of us are happy with LGBTQ politics becoming a conservative cause.
So, here’s some of the comments posted on Twitter by those who take issues with Ms. Abe’s appearance at the Pride. And I’ll provide translations along the way. (Note: LDP is short for the Liberal Democratic Party, headed by PM Abe.)
安部首相の夫人がレインボー・プライド・パレードに出席したという。この問題はいかに自民党や安倍首相の政策が「やっかい」なのか、あるいは新自由主義がなぜこんなにも、マイノリティに対して「気遣い」をしているかの、問題の本質だと思う。安部首相より夫人のほうが「まとも」なのでは決してない。
— pouvoirmagique (@pouvoirmagique) April 27, 2014
They say the wife of Prime Minister Abe joined the Rainbow Pride parade. I think this shows the true nature of the issues regarding how the policies of the LDP and Prime Minister Abe are “tricky and troublesome” (yakkai) and why the principles of neoliberalism entail such “solicitude” (kizukai) for minority individuals. It is not the case that the wife is better than the husband.
レインボープライドには安倍首相夫人も来ていたようで、なんか自民党ってそういうところは抜かりがないよなあ。半永久政権になるわけだと思いました。某学者の人みたいに、無邪気に夫人が首相になればいいのになんて思えないわなあ。
— micha (@micha_higashi) April 27, 2014
It seems that Prime Minister’s wife came to the Rainbow Pride. This shows how much the LDP knows its every move. No wonder they are the semipermanent ruling party. An academic says they want the wife to be Prime Minister instead, but that’s a naive view that I can not agree with.
昨日のレインボーパレード、安倍昭恵や乙武洋匡も参加したのか？原発関連よりも更にお祭りっぽいノリのようだが、私だったら彼らと一緒にデモなど、とても複雑な気分になる。
ＬＧＢＴへの理解求めパレード 安倍昭恵さんらも参加
朝日新聞デジタル http://t.co/JWKx6PxmG0— Tommy (@TOMMY5918) April 27, 2014
So even Akie Abe and Hirotada Ototake joined yesterday’s Rainbow parade? The event seems more festive than ones about nuclear power, but I would feel very awkward marching in a demonstration with people like them.
何を見習うの？ RT @gonoi: #自民党 の議員とサポーター諸氏はレインボープライドに参加した安倍昭恵・総理夫人の姿勢を大いに見習うべし。RT @TOKYO_DEMOCRACY レインボープライドAIDS …pic.twitter.com/3zVFsgVXNb”
— 坂本 慎二(手作りケーキ新党公式) (@typtravis) April 28, 2014
Learn what? RT @gonoi: Members and supporters of #LDP have a lot to learn from the attitude of Ms. Akie Abe, the wife of Prime Minister, who joined the Rainbow Pride. RT @TOKYO_DEMOCRACY Rainbow Pride AIDS …pic.twitter.com/3zVFsgVXNb”
ちょっとこれも自民党的ダブスタを容認してるようにも… ま、イスラエルもOKだし、RT Tokyo, la first lady Akie Abe … http://t.co/yePelJ4UTe pic.twitter.com/lZDItZvsjU #TRP2014
— 少年ブレンダ (@hibari_to_sora) April 28, 2014
From this, it seems like the LDP’s double standard is tolerated… well, they seem to be ok with Israel, so. RT Tokyo, la first lady Akie Abe … http://larep.it/1ki5bVH pic.twitter.com/lZDItZvsjU #TRP2014
https://twitter.com/jyonaha/status/460309014551621633
I wish they had asked, “Do you think your husband will someday come to pride?” RT @rekopekopako At Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade, we interviewed Ms. Akie Abe!! #TRW2014 #lgbt #lgbtq pic.twitter.com/MDcuNhqsbW
Add (April 30)
Since some people just can’t stop nitpicking, here’s my tweets regarding this post.
@gimmeaqueereye So the blame isn't on her. It's on us.
— Masaki (not in use) (@GimmeAQueeerEye) April 28, 2014