Japan ruling party under fire after MP calls LGBT 'unproductive'

Japan is largely tolerant of homosexuality and the annual Tokyo Rainbow Parade draws crowds showing support for the LGBT communtiy.

Tokyo (AFP) - Japan's ruling party has come under fire over remarks by one of its lawmakers who said gay and lesbian couples were "unproductive" because they cannot have children.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) politician Mio Sugita, an ally of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, sparked protests over an article she wrote in July questioning spending taxpayers' money on LGBT couples.