Rights watchdog calls for halt to hate speech against sexual minorities

 

Participants of the 20th Seoul Queer Culture Festival parade with a giant rainbow flag in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, in this June 1, 2019 photo. Some public officials at the Seoul Metropolitan Government issued a statement against holding the event at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall in 2019. / Courtesy of Seoul Queer Culture Festival Organizing Committee

By Lee Hae-rin

The nation's human rights watchdog has called on candidates of elections, public officials and the mass keonhacai to stamp out hate speech against sexual minorities, which it says could instigate or strengthen prejudice against minority groups.

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea expressed the opinion, Wednesday, in response to petitions that an election candidate's hate speech against a festival for sexual minorities and a broadcaster's removal of a same-sex kiss scene from a movie discriminated against and violated the human rights of sexual minorities.

During a televised debate among Seoul mayoral candidates on Feb. 2, Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the conservative minor opposition People's Party, voiced his opposition to holding the Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF) in central Seoul, and claimed the "right to refuse it."

"If a queer festival is held in Gwanghwamun (in central Seoul), there will be some people who want to come to watch it, but the rights of others who are against it should also be respected," Ahn said at the time.

The festival has been held in central Seoul annually since 2000.

Regarding Ahn's remark, the commission said the festival is held to call for the rights of LGBTQ people who still suffer discrimination. It said such hate speech made by a politician during an election period tends to spread easily and quickly. "He is the head of a political party and has the social responsibility to prevent and deal with hateful expressions against social minority groups," it said in a statement.

It recommended not only Ahn's party but also other parties and the National Election Commission to come up with measures to prevent hate speech made by candidates in campaigns.

The NHRCK also called for measures to deal with statements made by some Seoul City officials against holding the SQCF at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, in 2019 and 2021.

It said such hateful comments, when made by public officials, could also spread more easily and widely than words said by ordinary citizens. "Public officials have a duty to guarantee people's basic rights, but their statements encouraged negative prejudice toward sexual minorities and instigated citizens to develop discriminatory views. So the city government needs to improve its rules to prevent a recurrence."

The commission also raised concerns about television networks' discrimination against sexual minorities.

SBS, one of the major Korean broadcasters, deleted a kiss scene by a same-sex couple when airing the film "Bohemian Rhapsody" on Feb. 13.

"The mass media has a far-reaching effect on the public's values and attitudes, and the omission of the scene could give viewers a negative perception of sexual minorities," the commission said, urging the broadcaster to improve its system not to discriminate against social minorities in its programming.