LGBT artist to stage latest protest in Seoul

Heezy Yang performing his street art performance "Unjustifiable" in Insa-dong, Seoul, Jan. 16. / Courtesy of Heezy Yang

By David Keelaghan

Seoul-based artist Heezy Yang, 26, will hold his latest performance in support of LGBT rights this weekend in his home city. Having staged events at various locations around the capital, he hopes to change attitudes in the traditionally conservative nation of Korea.

"I'm a gay man and have a lot of friends who are activists in the LGBT community and I have seen a lot of them struggle," he said.

"My close friend works for an organization that helps LGBT kids who have been kicked out of their homes or are experiencing a crisis due to their sexuality. I thought I could help these people indirectly by bringing awareness through my art projects."

Yang's performance this Saturday in Itaewon will be titled "Unjustifiable" and focuses on the major issue among LGBT teenagers of being abandoned by their families.

"For 'Unjustifiable' I will have boxes with stuffed animals in them. The boxes have the reasons written why the animals are abandoned by their owners. I will also sit in a box that says why I was abandoned by my family, which is: ‘because I'm gay.' I haven't actually been abandoned though. My family accepts the way I am and I am lucky for that," said Yang.

During his most recent performance in Hongdae, he tackled some sacred cows when it comes to gay people and their place in society. "In ‘Bullied, Coerced, Kicked Out And...' I play the role of a dying kid who has cut his wrist in the street. I am wearing rainbow face paint and a school uniform. I have a bruised and scarred face which symbolizes that I was bullied or attacked. I'm also holding a cross in my bleeding hand which means I was coerced into changing my sexuality by the church."

Korea has been criticized for its treatment of its LGBT community by human rights organizations and equal rights activists. Often blame is attributed to the church, given Christian groups' outspoken opposition to equality laws. However, Heezy Yang reveals that the church can still have a positive role to play in society becoming less judgmental.

"I am not religious, but I know an LGBT-welcoming church in Haebangchon called ‘Open Doors Metropolitan Community Church' and I have a lot of friends who go there. Korean society is, sadly, all about fitting in and thinking about what others think about you. Being queer in such a society; it's tough."

Seoul's Mayor Park Won-soon received praise and revulsion almost in equal measure upon declaring his support for gay marriage last year. Since then he has tended to skate around the issue faced with the staunch opposition of many religious groups. For Yang, he hopes for action rather than words from politicians to make progress on LGBT equality.

"Last year, Seodaemun-gu withdrew approval for using Sinchon for Gay Pride and the Seoul Human Rights Charter was rejected after extreme protests by Christians. Mayor Park said he cannot officially support gay marriage because society is not ready for it. Activists and related organizations are working hard to change this, but I'd like to see some open-minded and supportive politicians raising their voices for the LGBT community," he said.

David Keelaghan works for The Korea Times. He can be reached at davidkeelaghan@ktimes.co.kr.

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