Rainbow Teen Safe Space

Last September we threw a celebration party to address the start of Rainbow Teen Safe Space project and in order to keep our word as we provide a safe space for LGBT youth, we obtained a place (about 70m2) for Rainbow Teen Safe Space in Nov, which was excitement itself. To us, it is incredible to build our own place as a non-profit project without any supports from the government. We feel very delighted in getting ready to meet LGBT youth on the one hand and bit worried on the other hand. We still need more funds because of the rental deposit and the construction expense, though I trust more people would be supporting us with more contribution if our supportive activities and programmes for LGBT youth are widely known.

Even if the space is small, by dividing it adequately we prepared a kitchen to have a meal together, a bedroom for a nap, a shower room to wash up, a counselling room, and an Open Hall so that LGBT youth would participate in a variety of programmes and enjoy activities. The rooms are not spacious enough and we are not able to provide a 24-hour running comfortable shelter for lack of operating costs, though we hope LGBT youth to have delicious food and a rest even for a while

Now we have yet to decide on what form of organisation 'Rainbow Teen Safe Space' should aim for, what management method would be democratic and appropriate for us, and the working condition for standing activists. Thus, we formed a Preparatory Committee so that we would further discuss our vision and mission and the scope of activity in detail. The committee consisting of 11 members got things started in earnest to dress up the Rainbow Teen Safe Space project. The project has made a good start with passionate activists who we have met while participating in the LGBT human rights movement. Passion in the improvement of LGBT human rights and affection for LGBT youth bring all these people together and they share each others' ideas and stay up late to discuss them.

Opening ceremony was held on 23th Dec. Beomjun(Kidida) at the age of 20 who was a gay youth passed away committed suicide on Christmas Eve. He had suffered hatred remarks in the church and managed to endure a tough life but never lost his smile. It was the saddest Christmas day ever I remember. At his funeral gathered many people to memory him. Most of them at his age was too young to know sorrow and a friend's death. One year after his death, Rainbow Teen Safe Space is getting ready to fill in his vacancy.

The clock of LGBT human rights goes backwards in Korea now. The opponent disgorges hatred against LGBT people on the pretext of freedom of speech and also takes advantage of press and media. They only reveal their stubborn insistence without respect to democratic procedures. They keep repeating groundless slander; encouraging the youth to adopt homosexuality, human rights education teaching anal intercourse, and AIDS will spread out. What's even worse, Korean government appointed Pastor Choi, E-Woo as non-standing member of National Human Rights Commission, who has publicly denied homosexuals and opposed the enactment of Anti-Discrimination law. For his appointment, it is highly likely to revise National Human Rights Commission Act that only states anti-discrimination regulations against sexual orientation.

Under these circumstances, Rainbow Teen Safe Space move forwards like a flower in the middle of the mud. We sincerely hope you to take the initiative in the fund raising for Rainbow Teen Sage Space project that is being attempted for the first time. I trust that each of your contribution would be more strengthening us.

Yours fiathfully,

2015.2

Min-seok, Jeong Project Leader from Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea

Links:

• Korean website