Harisu Requests Meeting with Yoon Ho-jung and Lee Jun-seok... "Urging the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act"

"Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act: Itself an Implementation of Constitutional Spirit and a Bulwark Protecting Minorities"

Transgender celebrity Harisu requested a meeting with the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party on the 27th to urge the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act (Equality Act).

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Woo-seok] Transgender celebrity Harisu (47, real name Lee Kyung-eun) requested a meeting with the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party on the 27th to urge the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act (Equality Act).

The civic group Military Human Rights Center stated on the same day, "Today, Harisu requested a meeting through the Military Human Rights Center, which is part of the Anti-Discrimination Act Enactment Coalition, with the leaders (emergency committee chairpersons) and floor leaders of both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party within this month."

The meeting request was addressed to Yoon Ho-jung and Park Ji-hyun, co-chairs of the Democratic Party's Emergency Committee, Park Hong-geun, floor leader, as well as Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, and Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader.

In the meeting request letter, Harisu pointed out, "Sexual minorities have faced unjust discrimination head-on for many years and have been the main targets of hate forces opposing the enactment of the Equality Act. As a transgender person myself, I have endured discrimination and hatred with my whole body, and I still do. However, there is no one who deserves to be discriminated against anywhere."

She added, "Two activists are currently conducting a hunger strike in front of the National Assembly for the Anti-Discrimination Act," emphasizing the recent Supreme Court full bench ruling acquitting a case under the military criminal law's molestation charge, confirming that discriminatory treatment based on sexual orientation should not exist, and citing constitutional provisions banning discrimination, stating, "The enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act itself is the realization of the constitutional spirit and a bulwark protecting minorities."

She continued, "Last year, several transgender individuals, including the late Corporal Boon Hee-soo, suffered from discrimination and passed away," urging, "I want to discuss the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act and the political role regarding human rights and discrimination issues in the National Assembly as soon as possible."

The comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits all discrimination based on gender, disability, sexual orientation, academic background, and more, was first proposed in the 17th National Assembly in 2007.

Since then, civil society has consistently demanded legislation, but it has been repeatedly frustrated due to the lack of social consensus.

Currently, a National Assembly public hearing on the Anti-Discrimination Act is scheduled, marking the beginning of serious parliamentary discussions. In the 21st National Assembly, four related bills have been proposed: the 'Equality Act' by lawmakers Park Joo-min and Lee Sang-min, the 'Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act' by Democratic Party lawmaker Kwon In-sook, and the 'Anti-Discrimination Act' by Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young.

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