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South Korea eases restrictions on homosexuality |
Feb. 5, 2004 |
In a largely symbolic move, South Korea said Wednesday it
plans to remove homosexuality from a list of "socially
unacceptable sexual acts" that are harmful to youth.
The government decision, which is subject to public debate
before becoming official, marks a victory for gay rights
groups that have called on the government to revise regulations
deemed biased against gay men and lesbians. Currently,
homosexuality is on a list of sexual acts that the government
deems "socially unacceptable," along with group
sex, incest, bestiality, prostitution, and sadism. The
government limits the distribution of books, movies,
and Internet sites containing these acts, saying they
are harmful to youth.
On Wednesday the government's Commission
on Youth Protection said it planned to remove homosexuality
from the list. Advocates for gay rights have argued that
the regulation should be revised, saying it promotes
prejudice among youths. The commission said it plans
to revise the regulation by April after hosting public
hearings on the issue. South Korea does not outlaw homosexuality,
and several gay bars operate in Seoul. But until recently
the gay rights movement had been virtually nonexistent
in South Korea, where discussing homosexuality was taboo.
A small group of gay men and lesbians have begun networking
through Web sites since a few students publicly admitted
their homosexuality in the early 1990s.
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