2019 Equality March Speech

출처: 차별금지법제정연대 홈페이지 https://equalityact.kr/2019equality-march-speech-list/ 발언문 번역 및 감수: 김우희, 김윤정, 김세움, 이다은, 조성수, YC, 김연주

Pre assembly ‘We Speak’

-Speech 1.

1) Rev. Borah Lim(Senior Pastor, Sumdol Presbyterian Church, Rainwow Jesus)

To all participants in the march to call for the enactment of the “anti-discrimination act” of 2019!

From the last year’s Equality March to today, the inequality experienced by each person in reality must have been tremendous.

The culture of inequality in Christian faith has been fostering inequality in everyday life, and this is now at a serious level. Every fall, the Presbyterians in South Korea hold their own General Assembly.

The liturgies [such as 예장합동 - Presbyterian Church in Korea, 예장합신 - The Korean Presbyterian Church] again banned special lectures from the pastors and theologians by accusing them of heresy. Why heresy? For advocating homosexuality or welcoming Islam, supposedly. And as if the discrimination against queer minorities was not enough, they are now encouraging racial and religious discrimination. So, the voice of Christians against such behavior are needed. The voices of non-Christian citizens against such behavior are really needed.

In addition, queer allies are banned from being admitted to seminaries. Sometimes they are expelled for participating in queer culture festivals. The church is acting more oppressive and authoritarian than the medieval churches.

They say anyone is “anti-Christian” if they support anti-discrimination act, homosexuality, alternative military service, human rights ordinances (including ones by students and local governments), abortion, religious biases in school textbooks, “genderism”, radical feminism, and more.

The [Presbyterian] General Assembly also decided to reject the Constitutional Court of Korea’s ruling on abortion ban as unconstitutional.

It is tiring how we have to hear wordings such as “genderism” these days.

Presbyterian Church of Korea (예장통합), which is quite sizeable, is not different.

Their educational department plan to publish, by the end of this year, anti-queer textbook for all ages. They will take disciplinary measures against not only the people who recognize genders other than “man” and “woman”, but also the so-called “anti-Christians” who discuss social minority issues by writing, lecturing, preaching, and using social network services.

It is horrifying. Is it not frightening that a denomination of that size cannot help workers using collection action and displaed refugees, but can customize their education -- from children to elderly -- to preach “anti-homosexuality”?

I am going to quote a statement from this denomiation’s meetings.

On genderism, for example.

“Let’s compare them to Tsunamis. Homosexuality is 30 meters high, but gender theory is 100-200 meters high. Homosexuality is a sin, but it at least recognizes that god created man and woman. Gender theory discards the idea of man and woman. It is a greater sin than homosexuality, and goes against the creationism.”

But please, not all Korean christianity are in such devastating state.

There are some units opposing discrimination and hate -- units that are actively speaking out to enact anti-discrimination act. Even in the context of Korean Christian churches who are immersed in reactionary anti-homosexuality, some people are trying to make a safe space where research can be conducted to create church ministry that welcomes social minorities.

On September 26, a statement was issued at the Human Rights Center of the Korean Christian Church Council.

I will finish my remarks by reading the last part of that statement.

Does standing in solidarity with the queer minority contradict the Christian spirit? The fundamental teaching of Jesus is to practice God’s universal and equal love to all. Thus, the church can only be perfected only when we respect all human dignity and all human rights, and when we stand with our marginalized neighbors in our society. No one can be excluded from God's love. This is the fundamental spirit of Christianity. The church that has taken the path of discrimination and exclusion is refusing to be the body of Christ. The stereotypes and prejudice against the socially weak can never realize the value of Christian love. Armed with literal biblical interpretation and biased ideologies, the “homophobic frame” will eventually be recorded as a disgraceful and shameful history of the Korean church.

No one should be a recipient of hate. The extreme horridity shown by the policies of each general assemblies of the Presbyterian Church has confused many conscientious believers who value the Korean Church, and these policies have frustrated and scarred countless socially underprivileged people. The Korean church must stop this historically shameful behavior and repent before all the victims.

Korean churches should follow the teachings in the bible and continue the history and tradition of ecumenical movements with the people. Churches must stand in solidarity with the socially underprivileged and social minorities, and actively converse to build a society where differences can be respected.

Let's shout together!

Take back the anti-human rights decisions that produce hate and discrimination against queer minorities!

We urge the Korean church to recover quickly as a community of love and hospitality.

Establish Anti-Discrimination Act!

 

2)Kim Hye Yeon(Solidarity to Enact Anti-Discrimination Legislation in Busan)

Hello, I'm Kim Hye-Yeon from Anti-Discrimination Act, Busan Solidarity division.

I'm so happy to meet my comrades from all over the country, who are each leading our own lives in different regions. It’s a pleasure for us to finally meet in this lonely Korean society, which categorizes and separates everyone. We are here, striving together to bring equality and peace. I am engaged in queer human rights activism in Busan. Looking back to Busan in 2019, I cannot help but be angry to see how many queers, disabled, workers, women, migrants, teenagers, and animals have been discriminated against and exposed to real violence in Busan.

The struggle for the complete abolition of family support obligation rules, disability rating system, and disabled detention centers has been going on for many years, and slow in progress. And the right to survive for Busan’s urban poor is nonexistent. The Busan Metropolitan Government is handing over a preferential land site to Poongsan conglomerate, and every day, five workers are killed due to workplace accidents and occupational diseases.

This year, the queer minorities in Busan were shunned not only by the police and the prosecutors, but also the ward office, municiple council, and the city hall. The Busan Queer Culture Festival Planning Group, which prepared the 3rd Busan Queer Culture Festival in 2019 followed by 2017 and 2018, canceled the festival due to police inspections on civilians, criminal charges by the Haeundae District Office, the 2.4 million won fine and anonyous hate crimes. The families of the director of the Busan Queer Culture Festival had to suffer police inspections and phone calls from hate crime groups.

The collusion between local government and hate crime groups is still ongoing. In February 2018, the Haeundae District Council removed the Comprehensive Discrimination Ordinance from the Haeundae District Human Rights Ordinance, and two months later, in April 2018, the Suyoung District Council manipulated the Human Rights Ordinance in a similar form. Behind such decisions is an organized movement of hate crime groups. It was revealed from the the National Assembly in Haeundae-gu meeting minutes that a few conservative Christian groups and hate crime groups continuously pressured the district council member of Haeundae to revise its ordinance.

Busan city’s vision is a city where citizens are happy. So of course, shouldn't we all build a city where everyone is happy together? Busan is pushing us to the brunt forefront discrimination and exclusion. Busan should hold back the social discrimination towards the minority in the future of the message and act together to change. If they really want to talk about human-centered administration, they must respond with an equal administration and a reconsideration of human rights awareness in local governments.

Despite the continued demands of many equal citizens, the government, the National Assembly and elsewhere are not striving to enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination law. The dereliction of duty of those who are responsible has immediately become a weapon of discrimination, bruising society with hatred and exclusion, where equality and human rights are to flourish, where diversity is to flourish, wherever democracy and tolerance are to be established. And the violence of discrimination is ultimately going deep into our lives and destroying our lives.

But no matter how much the hateful cartel tries to silence us, we will always speak, sing and shout equality. Let's rise again by holding the hands of comrades fighting for equality and peace across the country. Let's spread this equality march around the country like strong waves.

Comrades here, let us not let go of the comrade's hand next to us until the world of equality and peace comes, but let us hold the comrade's hand that falls and falls, and rise again and shout equality. We are strong when we are together, we are strong when we fight together.

 

-Speech 2.

1) Yangmal(ASUNARO Action for Youth Human Rights)

Hi, this is Yang Mal form ASUNARO. I am 17 years old. I am not allowed to have a part-time job without my parents' consent. Also, I sometimes cannot book the accommodation when I travelling, leave school and even I was denied medical treatment.

It is because of just my age. Teenagers are considered dependent on their parents. A high level of power has been allocated in non-adolescent caregivers without any doubt instead of adolescents themselves. Teenagers are considered the only period for preparation to become a proper adult. Therefore, they might be only an object of control and discipline. It can be the same example of women which are considered only for the object of pregnant.

As a teenager, I would like to be protected. However, this protection should not be involved in exclusion and discrimination. It has to guarantee human rights.

At the moment, I have left school. I am often asked extra things to do because people think that I am out of the normal category. They have asked me to be clear in my plan or dream, wake up early even at the weekend, have regular daily plans, pass the qualification exam, having proper personal relations and not to reject against parents. They always said that the reasons why they ask me the above things are that they worry and care about me.

I think everyone is worried about my future. I am asked to go to university more often than when I was in high school. It is because people might worry that a high school qualification exam without an official graduate from school can cause discrimination when I become an adult. Also, almost all of the official supports that teenagers can receive are focused on the school. I believe that this current system of government should be criticised instead of teenagers. I would like to ask you to prevent double standards of this society to teenagers who left school. Do not prevent that youngsters leave the school, please contribute to prevent double standards and discrimination in entering university and employment.

We will have an election next year. No matter I support a specific party or candidate, I cannot vote because I am only 17 years old due to officially 17 years cannot vote in this country. Perhaps I can vote if the election law revises in the regular session of the National Assembly. However, the still revised bill is not appropriate because 18 years old ages standard are too high. I believe that the ages of the election demonstrate the level of democracy. I assert that teenagers need the right to vote because it can contribute to eliminate discrimination based on ages. There is no time to later for the law against discrimination.

 

2) Lee Veroniac(Political Mamas)

Hello, I am Veronica from an advocacy organization called Mothers in Politics.

I am pleased to join the equality march hosted by Solidarity for Legislation of Anti-discrimination Law, which has worked to eradicate discrimination and hatred since its inception in 2011. To dismantle inequalities that suffocate South Korea, which needs healing after receiving low numbers on happiness indexes for years, 128 organizations and supporters have gathered here today to urge the legislation of anti-discrimination law.

People with disabilities, temporary workers, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women, and youth are raising their voices against the discrimination and disadvantages they experience through continuous harassment and abuse of power. There is also a growing number of movements that are fighting to recover the dignity and rights people deserve.

Our organization has provided free counseling and legal services to join in solidarity with the courage of youth leading the School #MeToo movement. We have also created a School #MeToo national map that demonstrates the status of sexual violence in schools around the country to address the right to information of the public, including parents. School #Metoo is a crucial agenda that has been designated as a major agenda in the review by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Despite extensive attention and support from the international society, the Korean government still does not adequately protect survivors through quick responses to the issue and firm punishment of the perpetrators.

There are also cases of discrimination that continue around us because the victims are not aware of the situation. One example is discrimination in kindergarten meal fees that had been exposed by the school meal & snacks team in Mothers in Politics. We found that the government spends 1,745 won for one meal and two snacks provided at kindergartens. This fee has remained unchanged for the past 22 years. 1,745 won is not even enough for a roll of kimbop at a convenience store. Numerous children have appeased their hunger with a meal that lacks nutrition and is low in quality and quantity because of the extremely low budget, but the children probably did not know that their rights to health have been violated every day. They probably just thought they were hungry even after eating the meal. They would have just endured with their empty stomach because they might be scolded and told that they are greedy if they asked for more food.

However, the situation is different if the children’s parents are government officials. According to data obtained by Mothers in Politics, children attending kindergartens in Seoul metropolitan city government has meals that equate to 6,391 won. The quantity and nutrition of these meals are very different compared to the meals provided by non-governmental kindergartens with 1,745 won. Such discrimination is caused by the government. This injustice creates a hierarchy between children based on the occupation of their parents. This unjust policy produces parents who are hurt by the discrimination that their children face because they are ‘incompetent’.

To remedy the discrimination in kindergarten meals that divides parents and exacerbates class inequality by perpetuating legacies of privilege in the current moment when village communities that help raise a child are being destroyed, Mothers in Politics are demanding a 1.5 times increase in the minimum fee of 1,745 won. The inclusive country children’s policy that the government has implemented would only gain the public’s trust once it is followed by practice that heals the memories of discrimination inscribed on children’s bodies through hunger and inadequate kindergarten meals.

Mothers in Politics supports a society of gender equality where differences are respected and discriminations are eradicated, of welfare that enables individuals to sustain their human dignity, and of non-violent peace where everyone can live their everyday lives without fear.

We have gathered in Gwanghwamun Square today to demand the legislation of anti-discrimination law. I shout with the hopes that when we meet again soon, we would be celebrating the enactment of anti-discrimination law.

A country with equal opportunities is a country without discrimination.

A country with fair processes is a country without discrimination.

A country with just outcomes is a country without discrimination.

I hope that we, the public who is the main agent of the sovereign power, would join our hearts and efforts to create a new start for equality in South Korea.

Thank you.

 

-Speech 3.

1) Bak Gi Jin(Solidarty of University & Youth Queer Societies in Korea;QUV)

Hello, everyone. My name is Gi-jin Park and I am the president of QUV, an organization for Solidarity of University and Youth Queer Societies in Korea.

With the recent disputes around former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, ‘youth’ and ‘university’ have been mentioned by citizens and politicians as people and space that demand fairness of opportunities. ‘Apologizing for the pain that youth felt about the unfairness of opportunities and relative deprivation’ was the scope of unfairness and the sense of responsibility that the political community drew the line on.

However, many university students and youth want a much more active change in dismantling inequalities in our society. One might feel relative deprivation anywhere when comparing oneself to others, but apart from this, there are discriminations one face as a subject of exclusion and stigma. I dare say that such ‘discrimination’ is a more serious social problem than unfairness of opportunities, and represent the unequal reality that university students and youth face.

The deprivation one feels about the lack of equal opportunities may just be an emotion, but all discrimination and hatred are experiences that lead to inequalities in systems and power and social stigma that oppresses minorities. Although sexual violence perpetrated by professors as well as hate speech about women, LGBTQ+, and other minorities in lectures have been pointed out, systematic solutions are lacking. Moreover, the hatred and stigma we witness in everyday life and online make it difficult to speak back against discrimination.

In fact, many university and youth queer societies in QUV have to endure hatred and threats of outing towards members whenever they publicize their activities. In some instances, university administrations disallowed the societies’ independent activities or censored members, threatening the personal lives of queer students. In Korea, some universities force incoming and current students to sign anti-queer declarations and have written in school regulations and admissions guidelines that ‘queer students cannot enroll in our university’. However, the Blue House, Ministry of Education, and the Congress are staying silent on this outright discrimination because it is ‘discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community’.

In all spaces including education, employment, labor, housing, and military service, the discriminations that youth face are not different. These are parts of everyday life that we should all be able to have for a humane life, safe livelihood, and the discovery and recognition of dignified life. However, because of our identities as ‘LGBTQ+’, ‘women’, and ‘temporary workers’, we lose safety, health, and rights, among many others. In a country where discrimination exists, the lives of youth cannot be dignified.

Dear all citizens. Opportunities may be taken away, but people’s dignities cannot be taken away. To use the language from the current president, people say I ‘disagree’. The expression ‘not accepted’ may be more suitable. The opportunities youth have access to should be fair but I ‘disagree’ with the dignity of members of the LGBTQ+ community. Discrimination is a problem but I ‘disagree’ with the human rights of certain minorities. Opportunities should be fair but I ‘disagree’ with comprehensive anti-discrimination. The current Moon presidency and the Democratic Party are portraying power that does not recognize people’s dignity and equality.

A government that stays silent on discrimination is a power that undermines people’s dignity. A government that shows no wills for the most basic comprehensive anti-discrimination law and power that fails to protect people’s dignity are incompetent. Comprehensive prohibition of discrimination is the way to recognize the dignity of all citizens. I hope that the political community will make efforts as soon as possible to reverse the current incompetent power and enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination law. Thank you.

2) Li weiwei(Korean Federation of Women`s Associations)

Hello, my name is Lee Mimi, and I’m the vice president of the “Korea Migrant Women’s Association”. I would like to tell you why I am marching to demand for establishment of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law.

Even though Korea is a diverse nation with more than one million migrant women residing in search of happiness, there are many cases of discrimination against children of marriage migrants and multicultural families to which we cannot stand anymore.

On May 11 this year, Iksan Mayor Jung Han Il, who attended the “2019 14th Happiness Sharing Campaign for Multicultural Families” at Wonkwang University in Iksan, said in front of many people, “Speaking from biological and scientific point of view, there is a term ‘heterosis’. Misleading smart and pretty kids in society can cause a problem just like the Paris riot in France”, insulting multicultural families in our society.

As a mayor, he has deeply hurt the children of multicultural families. Today, there are more than 10 million foreigners living in Korea. How would migrant children born in Korea get proper education in school when the mayor talks so rudely about them? How would those children be treated equally when they grow up in our society? As a mayor, he should respect the basic human rights, but how could he have become a major when he neglects the basic rights?

Many marriage migrants in Korea cannot stand it anymore. We have endured insults against us to some extent, but our children born in Korea should not be insulted. Just like the mayor’s child, our children do have the same rights. Isn’t Korea a democratic society? How could such an unrefined man become the mayor in our society? We demonstrated for a total of three days on June 19, June 28 and July 15 in a belief that we should no longer wait to protect the rights of our children. At first, many marriage migrants did not know what kind of laws were necessary, but we still managed to protest in order to protect the rights of our children. Now, we learned about a comprehensive anti-discrimination law through human rights organizations. Even though many criticism against multicultural migrants, we realized that marriage migrants should not be insulted. If there is a law, wouldn’t we be able to protect the rights of our children so that our children no longer be discriminated against in Korean society?

Now, there is an anti-discrimination law for people with disabilities, but it is not for everyone. We do not need an anti-discrimination law specifically for multicultural families. We have to live in Korea for our entire life, so we want everyone to be treated equally. That is why I am marching to demand for a comprehensive anti-discrimination law.

A comprehensive anti-discrimination law would ban discrimination in all aspects of political, economic and cultural life based on gender, sexual orientation, disability, medical records, appearance, age, country of origin, ethnic origin, race, skin color, language, region of origin, family type and family situation.

The Republic of Korea, where 10 million migrants live, should have a comprehensive anti-discrimination law. Let’s all work together to create a society where everyone is equal and free from discrimination.

 

[Joint declaration] Challenge for change - speak about equality, enact the anti-discrimination law!

Anti-discrimination law is an aspiration for those who demand and practice equality and the basis for anyone to talk about their dignity. However, the anti-discrimination law has been pushed back to later under the excuse that a social consensus is needed. While politicians have been consuming human rights as a tool to protect their vested interests, the anti-discrimination law has been targeted by people who stigmatize marginalized populations and incite hatred. Laws and bills that guarantee human rights were revised and withdrawn, and government institutions took the lead in denying human rights.

The current situation, in which anti-discrimination law continues to be pushed back, reverts the painstaking history of human rights. Although demands for gender equality fill the streets, the cartel of mal power remains steadfast. Labor conditions that outsource danger have long been triggering disasters. The social structure that puts priorities on existence, divides sides and incites hatred produces unjust deaths. The continuation of crises demonstrates that the longstanding slogan of ‘human rights are life’ is still in dire need.

The desperate fights of those who are forced into vulnerable lives continue to date. Wherever individuals are exploited, objectified, and not recognized as members, resistance arises, demanding dignity and equality. The shouts for equality have taken to the streets this year as well amid the desire for change.

The Equality March calls for the enactment of anti-discrimination law, but the shouts for equality do not converge to a single slogan. During Equality Week, we have gathered yearnings for equality from many people. Equality is the call for uprooting systems of inequality that divide citizens and non-citizens as well as normal and abnormal. Equality is the right to be guaranteed safety and to pursue happiness in life. Equality is a turning point that seeks hospitality and change from discomfort about others. Equality is the process in which we understand that our vulnerable lives are interconnected through endless conflicts and discord. The history starts with meeting people on the streets and discussing equality and capturing those who are excluded from the system. In our co-existence with others, we also change ourselves and call for social change. The language of equality binds us with actions that do not exclude anyone and longing for a shared future.

The nation-state should not classify and control citizens and non-citizens, normal and abnormal through hatred and discrimination. The enactment of anti-discrimination law is a promise to citizens’ calls for exploring and expanding the possibilities of human rights. This is not an easy challenge because it is about resisting longstanding hatred and stigmatization and creating change. However, we can no longer go against the streams of equality.

We start the march now shouting equality. The march will be joined by citizens who resist hatred and discrimination and demonstrate their desire for equality in South Korea. Furthermore, we will demand the Blue House, which has kept a cowardly silence, to speak about equality. The shouts from the march will be directed towards the Blue House and the congress but our shouts of equality will continue on the grounds of life, and on the ground where even life is deprived. Let us commit together. We will demand human rights anywhere and at any time and practice equality from the vulnerable lives of those who resist. Our language of equality will expand to a shared commitment.

We demand the following. Hear our noisy and energetic shouts and gestures beyond the walls of discrimination and exclusion. Enact the anti-discrimination law! Speak about equality!

 

10. 19 Participants of the 2019 Equality March

 

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Closing assembly ‘We Want’

-Solidarity Speech

Lee Jung-ok (Toll Gate Sit-in)

Hello, this is Jeongok Lee, I am a trade union member of the tollgate branch of Korean Democracy and Federacy Workers' Union.

Today I would like to introduce my experiences about employment at the tollgate. I employed in July 2002 by tollgate. But recently I fired without the right explanation from tollgate. The company said the reason why I fired is that I decided to be direct employment.

Just after I got fired, I joined the trade union. For the first time when I joined the trade union, I did not recognise myself what trade union does for manual workers. At that time, I thought I just needed to be a part of the union without a proper understanding of trade unions. However, soon after, I realised that what has been wrong with my previous working conditions through activities with the trade union. The employment contract which I signed up for every year is the main problem of working conditions. The employment contract had negative impacts on my working condition because I had to work like a slave and could not speak up to the company for 17 years.

There has been a lot of discrimination between us and direct employees from Korea Expressway Corporation. My salary has not increased at all since the first month of my working day. I always had to work under the supervision of Korea Expressway Corporation, it was tough because they forced and required me to collect default and crack down overloaded vehicles with a high level of stress. Those works have been benefits for only direct employees of Korea Expressway Corporation

If we did not do those work, we had more stress from Korea Expressway Corporation. We were forced to work on a day off without extra pay. If we were direct employees, we would have the right extra money from the company! Even if we had to work double or triple times than direct employees, our remuneration package has been different from them. I sometimes have felt unfair whenever I am thinking about wages, welfare and so on. For example, direct employees have been provided uniform every year and even when they go to the workshop, they stayed luxury accommodation. However, indirect employees, our situation is different from them.

I realised that this is discrimination. When I worked in tollgate for 17 years, I did not realise discrimination, but I realised after I got fired. I worked in tollgate without the right understanding of my rights as labour.

Sit in two months in front of the blue house, sit in 98 days in Seoul tollgate canopy and now we are doing sit in for 41 days in headquarter of Korea Expressway Corporation in Gimcheon

As you know, according to the final ruling of the Supreme Court on 28th August, we became direct employees of Korea Expressway Corporation. Korea Expressway Corporation announced that they are going to employ us step by step. However, Euljiro arbitration determined that even if the ruling of the second trial set direct employment in concrete, people who pending in the first trail will be temporary employees. I do not really think it is the right decision of arbitration. The worst decision is that the Federation of Korean Trade Union already signed up in this arbitration. I do not accept this situation. Temporary employment cannot be a solution to us because it cannot provide us a stable job environment and we are going to be afraid fair again. Moreover, Korea Expressway Corporation seems to divide us into two groups and they have forced us to work in an affiliated company. However, we are not going to respond to these recommendations.

We should condemn the government and the blue house! It is because although they already have known this situation, they have not involved this issue. Where is human rights especially labours rights? I realised that power does not support many of labours but for some of the riches. I am so desperate for this situation that South Korea has faced now.

I really would like to make a better world which is fair and equal rights for everyone without discrimination. I think I could fight for this with the people who attend here today.

Thank you

 

-Speech 2.

1)Seo Chang-ho(Solidarity to Enact Anti-Discrimination Legislation in Daegu and Gyeongbuk )

Our Confidence and Challenges in Equality

Today, we gathered to talk about the need for human dignity, calling for the enactment of Anti-Discrimination Act. we came here from all parts of the country - Jeju Island, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, etc. - after having a breakfast early in the morning.

However, it seems that equality is still a long way off in Korean society and hatred is a little closer. Hatred is breeding where equality has been withdrawn. Politicians keep saying “later” against reasonable requests of human rights and equality, looking at tabulation and public opinion.

We may not be sure that our demands or march will change the world. You may have been asking for more than a decade to legislate an Anti-Discrimination Act, but the world doesn't seem to budge.

We don't have a Anti-Discrimination Act, but there are ‘already’ hundreds of people who are in favor or against it and it's becoming a social agenda. The consequential approach of whether the Bill was enacted or not should not see the present state of the Anti-Discrimination Act.

There is a philosopher's saying. Mankind has only raised issues that it can solve, this suggests that "discovery of problems" is the solution. Finding the right problem is the answer and the beginning of the solution.

The demand for equality and the enactment of an Anti-Discrimination Act will not be the only demand of today. It's a task to shout and fight in the face of hatred and discrimination. The slogan "Speak out discrimination" is not just what it is today, but what you have to say and fight throughout the country. And we have to constantly shout and fight in the upcoming general elections. I want to live together in the name of human dignity with the task and conviction of equality that we have called for today. Thank you!

 

2)Lee-Hye-yeon(Incheon Queer Culture Festival)

Hello, I'm Hyeyeon, the co-organizer and planning director of the Incheon Queer Culture Festival. I'm here today to criticise the silent Blue House, which has been a backer of hate forces.

Do you all remember the first Incheon Queer Parade? Although this year was safely over, on September 8th, last year, the organising committee as well as the participants, were exposed to abusive language and violence for more than 12 hours. The perpetrators, the hate forces, were not held responsible, and this year they came to the festival again.

Hearing "Dirty homosexuals moving Aids go home," I was able to do nothing under the current legal system. Even though we know how clear hate speech that statement is, those who said it continue to say it casually. It’s because of the absence of anti-discrimination laws; there is no clear way to hold their language accountable. We tried to use other laws to hold them accountable for what they’ve said and for what they’ve did, but because of ‘lack of evidence’ and ‘inability to analyse the evidence’ they were not indicated.

Behind the growing hate groups, there are absence of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, silent public power and the Blue House. The Blue House talks about ‘reform’ and ‘peace’, but, considers the lives of minorities as second issue over ‘eliminating deep-rooted evil’ and ‘reform’.

I ask the Blue House. Is our society a peaceful society when we are afraid of our current life and our safety? Can our safety be ignored for the sake of external peace? Why don’t your ‘reform’ and ‘peace’ include us? Are those really reform and peace? How much bigger incident do you need to realise the problem of the absence of an anti-discrimination law?

I calling out to the Blue House. We've already lost too much. My peaceful life was swept away by the violence of the daily hate speech from the hate groups that continued to this day. Our comrades continue to leave our side. My comfort zone is no longer a safe place. You must break the long silence that has been a strong support to the hate groups, and answer to the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act, our lives, our safety, and peace.

I shout again to the Blue House. Take your responsibility for being silent and actively supportive to the hate propaganda. And stop being silent on the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act. Respond to a call for a comprehensive anti-discrimination law now. Be responsible as a government and keep what it needs to be keeped.

We want to live in a safe society with the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act. I hope our cry reaches to where you are, and , hopefully, you take the responsibility now.

 

-Action Plan

Jong-geol/Solidarity to Enact Anti-Discrimination Legislation

Where do we talk about equality? Closely speaking on SNS, in various communities, equality is spoken with people who have promised intimacy and care. Today, we gathered on the streets, talked about equality as citizens, demanded equality, and marched together. I hope we can all say hello together. Nice to meet you.

I'm Jong-kul Lee, co-head of the Solidarity on Legislation for Anti-Discrimination Act.

The Ministry of Justice announced to enact the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act in 2017, but no Anti-Discrimination Act has yet legislated since the 18th, 19th and 20th National Assembly passed. This reality, where legislation is being suspended, is a history of discrimination, and it is full of silence and evasion. In September, the Ministry of Justice said that they will consider the legislation through research and forums, but no concrete action has been taken in the plan that is repeated for 10 years.

I had a chance to hear what a presidential secretary thought about the Anti-Discrimination Act. The secretary raised the question of whether we could still seek change if it had been passed without seven reasons during the Roh Mu-Hyun Administration in 2007. In other words, the civil society opposed to the strategy of passing the Anti-Discrimination Act (which is not!) so now have the responsibility for the situation. The moment he shifts its responsibility onto minorities, I felt deeply insulted.

If the words - sexual minorities(LGBTIQ), gender, gender equality - are included in the policy plan, the administration requires policymakers and relevant organizations to delete them. Who are the forces who go to the local provincial and municipal councils to disrupt and destroy democracy, shouting against human rights, gender equality, student human rights regulations? Who in the world empowered those who promote and instigate hatred and discrimination against the social minorities of this land, including the sexual minorities, refugees, migrants, the disabled? Whose responsibility is it to create a political reality so that the Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon of the Christian Council of Korea can make a vigorous speech at Gwanghwamun Square on October 9th?

The Solidarity on Legislation for Anti-Discrimination Act re-launched in March 2017 in a long history of silence and evasion of government . We has declared this year's stance as "courage for equality" to express our belief in the values of equality and the principles of human rights. We called for preparations for the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act and knocked on the door to open the way to equality in a tough reality. We conducted ‘a courage for equality - connecting our experience of discrimination(평등을 위한 용기, 차별잇수다)’ locally to speak of our experiences and get more connected. On December 6, a big speech contest will be held to announce the power and alternative actions gained as a courage to speak of discrimination by gathering the voices from ‘a courage for equality - connecting our experience of discrimination(평등을 위한 용기, 차별잇수다)’. It will be a place for the citizens to check our courage for equality.

Next year, there will be the first general election during the Moon Jae-in administration after the Candle Protest against Park Geun-hye's retirement. Now Korean society can't feel whether the Seoul Plaza's aspirations have led to change. It is expected that the government and the National Assembly remain silent on the enactment of Anti-Discrimination Act, and forces who incite the hatred, some conservative protestant groups react against an during elections. The Solidarity on Legislation for Anti-Discrimination Act seeks to provide equality as an indicator of change in Korean society. The hatred for minorities and the powerless will intensify amid changes in the international political situation and deterioration of economic conditions. We will plan to regulate hate speech during the elections, and gather units that agree that the 21st National Assembly should be an opportunity for Korean society to move toward a more equal society, form joint response organization for the general election, prepare for an equal policy fair and an equality rally.

To encourage people to talk about equality, countless social minorities, citizens, have endured and survived the discriminatory reality for a long time. Turning a blind eye to this, a lot of government and political figures are afraid of summon up the courage for the promotion of human rights for the minority. Today, we are gathered to speak out equality with considerable courage. Equality cannot be stopped. We can only move on. Now it's time for the nation to muster up its courage.

The National Assembly and the Government speak of equality!

Moon Jae-in administration is committed to equality!

 

[Statement of declaration] We want an equal world

Korean society is being permeated by hatred. Those who perpetuate hatred have been howling. They insist that human rights, gender equality, cultural diversity, and democratic citizenship education should not exist. But hatred does not just propagate on its own. The government, congress, and political parties are expanding the grounds for hatred. The deletion of anti-discrimination clause and the retraction of anti-discrimination law have nurtured increasing amounts of hatred. Now we need to uproot such grounds of hatred and cultivate equality.

We are the people who cultivate equality. As women, people with disabilities, migrants, refugees, temporary workers, youth, those who are stigmatized by hatred, marginalized, and pushed into poverty, and blank names who have not even been given space, we speak of equality. We speak of equality in schools, in facilities, at home, on online platforms and media, in records of daily life, and in traces of lives that are not written into existence or discovered.

We will push out hatred from politics. Words and behaviors that are derogatory and insulting towards members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, immigrant women, immigrant laborers, refugees, and youth should be eradicated. We are not sacrificial offerings that politicians can offer in return for votes. We are here. Do not erase us as if we do not exist in this world. We know that your hate is erasing our rights. We will not give away our rights.

We will end the cowardly silence of politicians. Look at the consequences of them ignoring equality while being concerned with the forces that perpetuates hatred. In every confirmation hearing for positions in the government, hatred continues to surface as a problem. Hatred is now perishing our democracy. Is there a lack of social agreement for equality? The only thing that is lacking is your will towards equality. Do not put off equality until later. We will rebuild democracy with our voices towards equality.

The congress and government should take action to end hatred in Korean society!

Political parties should promise to eradicate of hate speech and oust politicians who perpetuate hatred!

The congress, government, and the Blue House should break their silence and speak of equality!

There is no later, enact the anti-discrimination law now!

The Blue House should declare plans to enact the anti-discrimination law and not hide behind silence!

The congress and government should implement plans to enact the anti-discrimination law!

We want a world without hatred. We want a world of equality. We will not be separated by social stigma and hate speech will not stop us. Our courage will cultivate equality and our solidarity will achieve equality. No discrimination can be condoned. We will not stop our shouts for equality until all discrimination is eliminated. Our disruptions will change the world. Let us march towards justice!