Rainbow Teen Safe Space

1125 Rainbow Teen Safe Space project . 

The Rainbow Teen Safe Space project started on the 25th of November. Thank you very much for your precious donations. By December 31st, we have raised $6,163 from 72 donors. I am thrilled to say that we can have a successful start on the first stage - street counseling - of creating a safe haven for Korean LGBTQ youth.

. 1210 , HIV/AIDS . 

There is some news that is heartbreaking and aggravating. On December 10th, the Human Rights Day, Seongbuk District Office of Seoul Metropolitan Government planned to hold a proclamation ceremony of the Declaration of Human Rights of the Citizens of Seongbuk-gu, which is the first to include citizens' human rights of sexual minorities and HIV/AIDS patients. However, more than 100 homophobic citizens barged into the ceremony hall while screaming and creating havoc. The proclamation ceremony could not be held and Dong In Ryeon members, including me, could not but leave the hall due to the violent threats that were thrown to my face.

1224 Rainbow Teen Safe Space project .

On Christmas Eve, a brother of Open Doors Community Church, which is one of the organizations working in the Rainbow Teen Safe Space project, attempted suicide and left us to a better place. Like one of the nightmares of Christmas, sexual minorities and affirming churches in South Korea mourned for his death. I had a counseling session with him for the first time when he was in his second year of high school. He was in conflict with his sexual identity back then, and I suggested he participate in a human rights program for LGBTQ youth set up by Dong In Ryeon. He seemed to be needing a peer. I still can not forget the question he asked me, "Can a person like me be loved by God?" He was shunned from his conservative church but also was cared and loved by the LGBTQ Christians he knew. At such a young age of 20, he left the church that didn't love him and left us for good.

 2014, Rainbow Teen Safe Space project .

And on December 30th, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) announced a revision of the Seoul Students' Rights Ordinance to delete the words 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity' from the grounds of discrimination. This was the result of conservative Christians pressuring SMOE with homophobia. And the conservative superintendent of education now wants to make an incomplete students' rights ordinance that doesn't even secure students' rights. This is very aggravating. The Seoul Students' Rights Ordinance, which was legislated in 2011, stipulates the minimal requirement of schools to never violate the autonomy of the students, to secure students' rights, and to strive to uphold the rights of minorities. (The Seoul Students' Rights Ordinance was the second to be legislated following that of Gyeonggi Province. No other local government has legislated an ordinance of this sort.) The LGBTQ Human Rights Movement stated that omitting 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity' from the grounds of discrimination indicates 'removing sexual minorities from schools' and is actively protesting against this. As of 2014, our fight to save the Seoul Students' Rights Ordinance must go on with the preparation of Rainbow Teen Safe Space.

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The anti-homosexual movement in South Korea is getting stronger day by day. Those who are against homosexuals are shamelessly campaigning in the streets and accusing homosexuals in public. They are trying to persuade the public with absurd logic that homosexuality is harmful to teenagers and that homosexuality will demolish families. This is a regression to the LGBT movement that took so long to move forward. The Seoul Students' Rights Ordinance is the first step. If we step back, we will lose so much. Please notice that Korean LGBTQ teens are the most vulnerable bracket to social homophobia. When exposed to it, teenagers are apt to cower in schools and homes more than before. Moreover, Korean LGBTQ teens can face more danger after they leave their schools and homes. When the Students' Rights Ordinance which is the only shield for teenagers regresses, more incidents are to occur.

2014 . 

Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea (Dong In Ryeon) is laying out the 2014 agenda and planning more active street campaigns. Dong In Ryeon will try harder to reveal the stories of LGBTQ teens and raise their voices.

LGBT . Rainbow Teen Safe Space project .

I ask of you to spread the status of LGBT human rights in South Korea. And please advocate Rainbow Teen Safe Space so that more people can donate to the project. When we reach our goal, we can start street counseling for LGBTQ teens. We will be able to be active for Korean LGBTQ teens that neither the national or local government, nor any teenage center has ever took notice of.

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Many thanks,

2014.1.2.

January 2nd, 2014

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Rainbow Teen Safe Space Project Leader of Solidarity of LGBT Human Rights of Korea,

Min-seok, Jeong