Korean Politician Advocates LGBTQ Rights On National Television
Congressman Keum Tae Sup has advocated LGBT rights on national television and proved South Korea’s rapidly changing views on LGBTQ rights.
Kim Tae Sup, a member of the National Assembly, was one of the key drafters of 2016’s Park Geun Hye impeachment bill and a participant of the “Candlelight Revolution”, the mass candlelight protests against former President Park Gun Hye.
On an episode of KBS1’s Eom Gyeong Cheol’s Night Debate, Keum Tae Sup defended the LGBTQ community and Korean pride festivals, explaining that he has experienced such a festival himself and seen for himself how enjoyable the event was.
27일 방영한 KBS1 엄경철의 심야토론, ‘성 소수자와 차별금지법’ 중에서 인상 깊었던 부분을 이어나갈 타래.
금태섭 의원님 호감 지수 +1,000,000 pic.twitter.com/4UPD3O3TZq
— 하린 🌊 (@bluemoonofdawn) October 27, 2018
“Please try attending a pride festival for yourself. I’ve been to one myself, it is truly an enjoyable event and what was very touching was, when the kids perform on the trucks, their parents follow from behind and say things like, ‘I’m proud of my children.’ The reason people do pride festivals in public is because minors who identify with the LGBTQ community are discriminated and bullied in various ways by 20% of their teachers and 50% of other students. That’s the environment they grow up in and if that’s the case, they’ll have to live in hiding for their entire lives.”
In regards to the issue of LGBTQ rights, he explained that ideology “against” LGBTQ rights can only be seen as a form of discrimination.
“찬반 말씀을 하셨는데, 성소수자는 존재의 조건이기 때문에 어떤 사람의 존재를 부정하거나 혹은 그 사람의 존재 자체가 부도덕하다 이렇게 말씀하시는 데에 대해서는 이런 인권 문제에는 찬반이 있을 수가 없고, 이것은 혐오의 문제라는 말씀을 드리겠습니다.” pic.twitter.com/qLdfF1d4AK
— 하린 🌊 (@bluemoonofdawn) October 27, 2018
“You’ve mentioned the matter of being for or against [LGBTQ rights], but you are talking about the denial of an LGBTQ person’s existence or that their very existence is immoral. There cannot be such a thing as being for or against such human rights issues, it is rather an issue of discrimination.”
On the same program, a man shared his own experience, all the while proudly holding hands with his partner whom he attended the program with together.
국민 패널로 참가하여 발언해주신 분, 말씀하시는 내내 애인님과 깍지 끼고 계셨다.
“아 저는, 대학교 들어와서부터 일일이 다 설명하는 게 귀찮아가지고, SNS에 그냥 다 이야기했고요. 오늘 기쁘게도 같이, 애인이랑 같이 왔습니다.”
“조영길 변호사님께서 말씀하신 내용이 굉장히 틀렸다.” pic.twitter.com/wlGoJc6BVJ— 하린 🌊 (@bluemoonofdawn) October 27, 2018
“When I entered university, I was too lazy to explain everything to everyone so I posted everything on my SNS and I am here today, happily, with my partner.”
This year, Korea’s first openly gay idol, Holland, made his debut and although there has been opposition against his activities, he has become a big inspiration for the LGBTQ community in Korea as well as in other countries.
A South Korean artist that goes by the name Tenny has also released Korea’s first music video about lesbians this summer and received mixed reactions from netizens, many of whom, however, supported the idea of respecting other peoples’ lives.
Other idols such as Tiffany and Amber have also openly expressed their support for the LGBT community
Needless to say, those who identify with the community still face many difficulties at home and work in Korea, and prefer to live in hiding as a result. However, with a rise in general awareness of LGBTQ rights with the help of entertainers, groups and festivals, South Korea seems to be experiencing a rapid social change in this area.
Share This Post
