Human Rights Commission: Ahn Cheol-soo's Statement on 'Right to Refuse Queer Festival' Is Hate Speech Against Sexual Minorities

"SBS 'Editing Same-Sex Kiss Scenes' Also Constitutes Hate Speech"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] On the 1st, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) stated, regarding People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo's remarks on the 'Queer Culture Festival' that "the right to refuse must also be respected," "Please ensure that hatred and prejudice against sexual minorities are not reproduced and spread."

Earlier, at the 'Third Zone Unification TV Debate' held on February 18, when preliminary candidate Geum Tae-seop asked if he was willing to participate in the Queer Festival like himself, Leader Ahn replied, "Opposing discrimination is natural. The human rights of individuals must be respected," but added, "If the Queer Festival is held in Gwanghwamun, the right to refuse such things must also be respected."

In response, the NHRCK pointed out on the same day, "Hate speech by politicians during election periods can spread rapidly, and especially since the respondent is a party leader, he has a heavy social responsibility to prevent and respond to hate speech against socially vulnerable and minority groups such as sexual minorities. Therefore, measures such as including provisions on the prevention and prohibition of hate speech in the party's ethical regulations are necessary to eradicate it."

On the afternoon of June 1, 2019, participants who finished the 'Seoul Queer Culture Festival,' a sexual minority festival, are parading at Seoul Plaza.
Photo by Yonhap News

The NHRCK judged that this petition case was not subject to investigation as it was difficult to see that specific harm occurred to a particular individual, but decided to express an opinion for the protection of sexual minority human rights.

Leader Ahn's side argued regarding the remarks at the time, "It was in the context that the right not to participate in the Queer Culture Festival should also be respected, and if the Queer Festival is held at Seoul Plaza, the function of the plaza could be restricted."

In response, the NHRCK explained, "The 'Queer Culture Festival' named as the object of the respondent's right to refuse stems from the history of discrimination against sexual minorities, who could not reveal themselves due to discrimination and oppression. It is a practice of visibility that reveals the existence of sexual minorities in public places and a movement that confirms each other's existence, helping to escape isolation and feel a sense of belonging and pride."

Movie 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the NHRCK also stated that SBS's editing of same-sex kiss scenes while broadcasting 'Bohemian Rhapsody' constitutes 'hate speech' that fosters negative prejudice.

On February 13, SBS broadcasted 'Bohemian Rhapsody' but deleted two kiss scenes between Mercury and his lover Jim Hutton and mosaicked kiss scenes of male supporting actors in the background.

Subsequently, the sexual minority discrimination opposition group 'Rainbow Action' filed a petition with the NHRCK, stating, "The arbitrary editing that treats homosexuality as harmful like violence or smoking is clearly discrimination against sexual minorities."

In response, the NHRCK expressed the opinion that "the deletion and mosaic processing of same-sex kiss scenes by the broadcaster in the movie screening can promote or reinforce negative notions and prejudices against sexual minority groups in relation to the petition case of discrimination against sexual minorities, so improvement is necessary."

Meanwhile, SBS reportedly explained that the broadcast was based on past decisions by the Korea Communications Standards Commission regarding the broadcast of kiss scenes between high school girls and that there was no intention of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.