By Lee Kyung-min
Sexual minorities have long been neglected and underrepresented in political dialogue here.
In an attempt to raise awareness of the need to protect their rights, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been drawing up the Charter of Human Rights for Citizens in Seoul, which will state, among other things, that a person has “the right not to be discriminated against based on sexual orientation or sexual identity.”
The municipality’s own human rights committee has held public hearings and its own meetings multiple times, with the last meeting held on Friday. The city plans to announce the final version of the charter in December, albeit a specific date has yet to be decided.
However, since news surfaced of the possible inclusion of the clause for sexual minorities, many conservative Christian groups have organized massive protests, collected signatures to file a complaint and held a press conference to rail against the clause.
They even vowed to impeach Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon unless the controversial clause is removed from the charter.
A Nov. 20 public hearing on the charter was cancelled due to a protest by opponents of gay rights.
The protesters were united under one theme.
“Homosexuality is a sin. It breeds not only sex crimes but also sex addiction,” said a Right Education of the Christian United member during the fifth committee meeting for the drafting of the charter on Oct. 13.
Such reactions hurt lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, who often keep their sexual identities to themselves to avoid judgment and discrimination.
“I knew that they would react that way. This is why I keep quiet and do not open up to anyone. Ever,” a gay man commented online.
“I would rather that the issue not be mentioned at all than take all those hurtful comments and get torn apart. They could all be avoided,” he added.
Sexual minority advocacy groups praised the city for drafting the charter.
“The charter will lay the groundwork for the basic understanding that we sexual minorities have the same rights as the rest of the citizens and do not deserve violence,” a gay rights activist, whose name was withheld, said during the Oct. 13 meeting.
He said the issue went far beyond the public’s tolerance for sexual minorities. In fact, he said, it could be a matter of life and death.
“We deserve the right to be protected from being beaten, harassed or killed for who we are,” he argued.
Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center director Baek Mi-sun said society did not fully understand the concept of human rights.
“Human rights are about protecting those who need it most ― the most vulnerable,” she said. “The weak should be protected, not the strong, because they can protect themselves.
“Some say being a sexual minority causes enormous pain to one’s family members. But if you think deeper, it’s society that causes the pain. The atmosphere that justifies the unfair treatment, the shame that they are forced to feel, all comes from outside.”
She said that in the middle of an ever-changing world, one thing remained constant: “The love for your family. That never changes. That’s what’s important.”