The COVID-19 pandemic has stigmatised the Korean LGBTQ+ community based on hatred and discrimination. The stigmatisation is neither helping to prevent the spread of corona virus, nor can be justified on its own.
English Translation: 동치
Translation review: Juyeon, 피웊
Writer of the original text: 에스텔
Review and amendments to the original text: 권태, Miguel
Corona virus fiercely spreading over the last three years has had a huge ongoing impact on the whole world. As the individual impact varies immensely among the groups one belongs to, LGBTQ+ society had its own distinct difficulties. This article will examine briefly on the various impacts sexual and gender minorities had during the pandemic.
A Stigma on the Other Side of K-Quarantine Measures
Korea drew applause for its successful quarantine measures on the early stage of COVID-19. In early 2020, the term ‘K-Quarantine’ became a trend, and followed a speculation that it played a large role in the ruling party’s victory in the general election in April 2020.
The table had turned, however, for sexual and gender minorities since May 2020. The authority at the time was numbering each confirmed case for identification and made contact tracing public for preventive purpose. Meanwhile, the tracing of “Yongin 66” included some gay clubs located in Itaewon, and as it was made clear that there was a mass infection around the area, press reports and citizen started to term the case as “Itaewon gay club’s mass infection.”
The public and the press pumped out provocative news reports based on sexual orientation, dishonouring the minorities as irresponsible. Another LGBTQ+ space exposed in other confirmed case’s tracing was targeted by hateful contents, with Christian fundamentalists even protesting against them in Itaewon. The government feared that any branding on LGBTQ+ would prohibit them from getting examined on the virus, leading to their bringing in anonymous COVID test. However, the administration ended up receiving personal information of those who were near the base station from mobile carrier companies, which was an unprecedented case.
Though the relations between LGBTQ+ society and disease are complicated, we can say for sure any branding or otherising on some vulnerable groups is no help to prevent the epidemic.
A teacher from a cram school (Hagwon) who visited the Itaewon area at the time and made a false statement about his whereabouts out of fear would be the relevant example that shows the atmosphere back then. Regarding his false representation and the following serial infection which led to a septenary virus infection, he was sentenced to six months in prison.
The stigma and discrimination against minorities make all measures in vain
What must be considered here is the social context that made this catastrophe happen. Despite being the typical hateful reaction against the LGBTQ+ community, the responses of the public and media were only justified legitimate as the LGBTQ+ community ‘deserved any criticism because they disrupted the previous prevention efforts.’ However, our society that allows such stigma and hate speech is responsible for the failure of preventive measures.
So, why did the cram schoolteacher have no choice but to lie? Would he have feared the consequences if he went to a common “straight club”? If Anti-discrimination Law and same-sex marriage were legislated, and everyone was educated a proper knowledge of LGBTQ+ rights, then would he have still risked it all legally and lied? Only if our friends and families, co-workers and local communities were more accepting, would this have still happened? Since no society took responsibility nor stand for the discrimination against LGBTQ+, the authority ended up condemning an individual.
What is left behind on the minds of LGBTQ+ youth
Stigmatised sexual and gender minority groups have been damaged over their very personal life. A research group on LGBTQ+ rights ‘Dawoom’ issued a ‘2021 Research on the Condition and Social Needs of LGBTQ+ Youth’ and documented how they internalized the memories of discrimination during the COVID-19 era
Unlike other sexual minorities, gay and transgender men who were closely related to the “Itaewon gay club infection” were found to be more concerned about getting harmed and blamed than getting infected itself. They also expressed their concerns as to outing followed by the contact traces, facing injustice based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, and the exposure of LGBTQ+ places such as Itaewon.
A recent monkeypox epidemic put sexual and gender minorities into another experience of being stigmatised even before the corona pandemic is over. Though the relations between LGBTQ+ society and disease are complicated, we can say for sure any branding or otherising on some vulnerable groups is no help to prevent the epidemic. We have seen the cases in the U.S.’s AIDS crisis, and Korea’s HIV/AIDS measures. It is most needed that we all realise only an equal world without discrimination can only enhance the society’s welfare and happiness.
English Translation: 동치
Translation review: Juyeon, 피웊
Writer of the original text: 에스텔
Review and amendments to the original text: 권태, Miguel
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