Translation: 'Let's protect and support homosexuals'... Daejeon City's Ordinance Ammendment Causes Ripples

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Today's translation is from an article over at the Kukmin Ilbo.  The political leanings of the religious paper can be seen clearly, which, along with the contents, can deepen our understanding on how rights for sexual minorities in Korea are both established and attacked. 

The local government of Daejeon City (Mayor Kwon Sun-taik) is strongly facing criticism from religious groups for attempts to include a sexuality equality ordinance stating the need to 'protect and support homosexuals and transgender individuals'. The reason [for the criticism] is that homosexuals cannot be the target of gender equality, and neither is administrative and financial support appropriate. 

Controversial bit highlighted: Protect and support sexual minorities (homosexuals, bisexuals, transgender, asexual, etc)

Daejeon Mayor Stands Up for Protection and Support of Homosexuals: The 'Daejeon City Gender Equality Basic Ordinance' was first designated in 2001, and amended last month. The problematic clause is number 3, which states that 'The Mayor of Daejeon must establish and implement plans to protect and support sexual minorities (homosexual, bisexual, transgender, asexual, etc.'

According to this clause, a method would be available for homosexuals in Daejeon to receive systematic protection and support from the city's budget. Specifically, Clause 3 Article 2, 'Family life support to secure equality and diversity' is similar to the concept of same-sex marriage and life partnerships that homosexuals are incessantly demanding. According to the clause, not only would same-sex rights education be supported, but homosexual festivals like the Queer Cultural Festival could also receive financial support from the city.  

Daejeon even went so far to include a title called 'Sexual Minority Support' (Clause 22). [Efforts to include same-sex minorities] are nailed in according to the ordinance, 'The mayor must fairly secure the rights of sexual minorities as well, and must make efforts to include and treat them fairly in all areas. The mayor can support homosexuals in accordance with the law and this ordinance.' This makes it so non-profit organizations can receive administrative and financial support toward promoting the abolition of discrimination against homosexuality and groups supporting homosexuality can even be rewarded. 

Different than the Pre-announcement of Legislation, the Judicial Officer's Office (법무담당솬실) Inserted Phrases: The problem is that the ordinance goes beyond the parent basic law on gender equality. In the Basic Law on Gender Equality, Article 2 states that 'Women and men should be able to participate and should be treated equally", which does not include anything about homosexuals. 

However, Daejeon has changed the wording of the existing ordinance from 'gender equality' to 'sex equality' in order to provide a basis to provide support for gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals. (TKQ: gender and sex are perhaps not the right words here, but I am not sure how to express it clearly in a different manner. The original ordinance used the word '양성평등', with the 양 referring to men and women. The new law takes off that first character so it is only '성평등') Up throughout the pre-announcement of the legislation there was no problem with this clause, but the city's Judicial Officer Office later added phrases. The city assembly passed the ordinance without bringing up any particular problems. 

In response to this fact, Daejeon's Protestant Alliance, Daejeon's Holy City Movement, and the Daejeon Holy Club have  decided to open an emergency meeting in order to amend or abolish the ordinance with the 'worry that if this ordinance with plans to support homosexuality is implemented without change, it could be used an example that is expanded throughout the country'. 

A person connected to Daejeon's Judicial Office stated that 'When making the ordinance, local women's groups asked for the inclusion of a 'third gender', but according to a Supreme Court precedent there are only two sexes, men and women, so a clause to support sexual minorities was included' and 'Including homosexuality only has symbolic meaning and there is not actual support'. 

Lawyer Go Yeong Il (고영일) of Advocate Korea (TKQ: A group that provides legal support to missionary workers) criticized the move, stating 'If the contents of the pre-announcement of the legislation have changed, then it needs to be announced a second time; how can a clause to support homosexuals just be randomly added in the middle of the process by the City Judicial Office?' and 'It is clear that this ordinance that it will be the mayor's duty to protect and support homosexuals. Saying it only has symbolic meaning is nothing other than a lie.'