This June, streets worldwide are adorned with billowing rainbow flags, jubilant marchers, and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” as the world honors lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) activists and celebrates the undeniable influence LGBTQ individuals have had on the world. The 1969 Stonewall Riots, a catalyst for LGBTQ activism and Pride Month, are forever commemorated in political history as they serve as a reminder of the invaluable progress the world has seen over recent decades. This Pride Month, The Granite Tower (GT) recaps the status quo of the LGBTQ movement, assesses the discrepancies in LGBTQ acceptance along geopolitical and cultural lines, and asks what it takes to truly accept the quizzically laconic slogan: Love is love.

The polarization of the status of LGBTQ rights across the globe is perhaps one of the most peculiar cultural whiplashes faced by this generation. Headline Western brands such as Apple, Disney, and LEGO plaster rainbows on their merchandise as exclusive Pride Month editions — only 31 nations worldwide have legalized gay marriage as of this May, with an overwhelming majority of them being culturally Western. A Gallup survey found that over 20 percent of Americans born after 1997 self-identify as LGBTQ, while cliques of gender identity formulated in online communities foster concerns of self-destructive identification amongst young adults — South Korea’s de facto anti-sodomy law has only been abolished this April. Both the manipulation of LGBTQ rights for frivolous purposes and the complete dearth of acknowledgment of these rights coexist in the status quo. What direction, then, should be taken to rectify the array of injustices and preserve human rights?

Rainbow Washing

Signaling the seed of change that once seemed impossible, societal acceptance of homosexuality has increased over the past two decades according to a 2020 study by the Pew Research Center. Though acceptance rates vary over cultural lines, the overall global trend is overwhelmingly positive, with nations that were previously socially conservative such as South Africa, India, and Korea seeing a double-digit increase in 2019 compared to 2002.

The rainbow, a symbol of the LGBTQ community, has seen a positive overturn of social status in liberal nations with the increased acceptance of the community. Though different sexualities have flags of differing color schemes to particularly represent them, the iconic red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet have come to represent diversity, unity, and resilience as an unimpeachable token of the queer movement.

However, all that glitters is not gold. While the rainbow has attained social connotations of self-expression and LGBTQ pride, it has plenty potential for misuse, especially in the context of commerce; many corporations aim to utilize the rainbow for profit. Every Pride Month, numerous Western corporations annually embellish their logos with rainbows, hoping to establish a brand image of being socially progressive and capitalize on it. Most, however, do not partake in any meaningful LGBTQ movements, and immediately curtail any connections with the movement once Pride Month is over, signifying that they view Pride Month as nothing but a business opportunity.

This phenomenon can be largely referred to as “rainbow washing,” where corporations utilize rainbow imagery to indicate solidarity to attain a positive brand image and consumer support, all without any substantial efforts to produce pragmatic improvements for the community.  A prime example is the British retailer Marks and Spencer’s 2019 LGBT sandwich (lettuce, guacamole, bacon, tomato); the product received mixed responses from the public, as some praised its social awareness while others deemed it as unnecessary exploitation.

The main problem with rainbow washing is that firms expect to enhance their brand value among the queer community only by exploiting the rainbow colors, engaging in superficial alliances purely for profit. A more genuine way to express their support would be to monetarily donate to the community or ensure LGBTQ individuals are not discriminated against in both job application processes and workplaces. Moreover, larger corporations should be aware of their societal influence and take caution to avoid being offensive, as the actions of one can be easily disseminated to multitudes of minorities. In a world where it is easy to get caught up in the most recent trends, companies need to continuously remind themselves that the queer community is more than a decorative color; it is a people.

Media Matters

Media is an inextricable part of modern life where people get information, form communities, and entertain one another. It is a reflection of current social standards and how members of society perceive each other; who appears in the media and gets to share their story is a critical part of communication and politics. Hence, it is essential that media creators and influencers incorporate diversity into their work as accurately as possible.

With the rising trend of LGBTQ acceptance, the quantity of visible queer figures in films, television (TV) series, and music has dramatically increased. On the status of baseline LGBTQ representation in mainstream media, Professor Victor D. Evans (Department of Communication, Seattle University) commented that  though “the film industry has still not reached an appropriate level of LGBTQ representation (...) most television shows have incorporated at least one LGBTQ character, if not more.”

Good representation, something that breeds a valuable sense of recognition and acceptance, is vital for queer individuals. For example, the Netflix series Sex Education is a heartfelt comedy featuring teenagers exploring their sexualities and showing support for each other. One of the main characters is Eric Effiong, an openly gay teen, who gets assaulted for his eccentric clothing. Discouraged, he resorts to a more bland, conservative look, but regains self-assurance after hearing pep-talk from a passerby in drag, eventually finding the confidence to unapologetically appear at the school dance in full drag. The self-acceptance and pride showcased in this particular scene greatly empowered queer viewers and touched the hearts of many. The show’s humane portrayal of queer folk also reminded the audience that sexual identities cannot be the defining factor of the person, and that respect for sexual minorities is a necessity to build a better society.

However, media creators must be cautious so that representation does not result in generalization. As stated by Professor Evans, “there are still a few shows that use LGBTQ images for the appearance of diversity and inclusion, and the characters are just mere tokens rather than fully integrated into the story.” Much too often are stereotypes employed as a queer character’s main personality trait to create a surface-level entertaining character, such as the flirty and flamboyant gay best friend or tomboyish lesbian who enjoys woodworking. While these general characteristics may be truthful to some extent, they fail to embody the queer community as a whole and, in some cases, are considered offensive.

Comedian James Corden, who identifies as a heterosexual man, was criticized for his portrayal of a gay Broadway diva in Netflix’s The Prom, as he took on uncomfortably crass gay stereotypes for comedic purposes. In the film, Corden only uses his flamboyancy in specifically “feminine”  scenes, such as a fashion makeover or the planning of musical numbers, implying that he treated his queer persona as a comical tool rather than incorporating it into the character’s actual personality.

Female members of the LGBTQ community, in turn, face the notorious “girl-on-girl” trope, where a heterosexual male fetishizes lesbian relationships and love between two women. An example of this is the sitcom Friends, where heterosexual female characters are occasionally jokingly expected to kiss for the pleasure of their male friends. The popular TV drama Riverdale also features a scene in which two heterosexual female characters share a kiss for shock value.

“Media creators should ensure they (queer characters) are not one-dimensional or used as tokens,” and “consumers should examine the number of queer characters, the authenticity of the characters, and how they are portrayed in comparison to the other characters,” advised Professor Evans. Though it is imperative that LGBTQ individuals receive their fair exposure on the big and small screens, more social awareness is required to avoid misrepresentation or underrepresentation.

Caught Rainbow-Handed

The legal system is an endless work-in-progress that evolves over time. Generally, it functions as a fine line between discipline and disorder, but it can also discriminate and exclude minorities, leading to disputes and controversy. The LGBTQ community is no exception. As an increasing number of individuals have started to voice their demands for equal rights, a few flaws in legal systems around the world have been brought to the attention of the public.

One of the most controversial laws surrounding the LGBTQ community is same-sex marriage. According to Professor John Corvino (Department of Philosophy, Wayne State University), “legal marriage is not merely about “celebrating” love (…) but also about cementing personal bonds that promote a flourishing society.” Professor Michael Boucai (University at Buffalo School of Law) adds that “the legalization of same-sex marriage (...)  is understandably perceived as an expression of state support for, even approval of, such relationships.” The Netherlands set a global precedent by being the first nation to legalize same-sex marriage in December 2000.  As of this May, 31 nations worldwide have legalized gay marriage; nearly all European and North American nations have legalized the process, while merely 4 countries from Asia, Africa, and Oceania, combined, have done the same.

With change comes inevitable backlash.  While the number of countries that legalize same-sex marriage has shown steady growth over the years, it has also attracted widespread condemnation from socially and religiously conservative communities. Though the full range of Christians cannot be accurately represented due to their sheer size, conservative Christianity is often viewed as an antithesis of the LGBTQ movement.

Likewise, orthodox social norms and traditions encourage opposition against the queer community. According to a psychology study at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) conducted by Dr. David Pinsof and Professor Martie Haselton, gay men and women are perceived as more sexually promiscuous than heterosexuals, which conservatives see as a threat to their own marriages and lifestyles. Professor Corvino advises, “What I want these people to understand is that everyone is better off when we support the kinds of relationships that are appropriate to each person, rather than forcing everyone into a model that may not be suitable for some.” The alleged threat imposed against traditional lifestyles has been the biggest linchpin of fears conservatives utilize against the LGBTQ movement.

Recently, this fear took the form of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, a legislation that bans public school teachers from holding classroom discussions about sexuality or gender. Though proponents of the bill claim that its aims are to give parents the final say about what, when, and how their children first learn about sexual orientation, it fundamentally demonstrates a step back from the progress made by the LGBTQ community to date. The bill, according to Professor Corvino, is a  “good example of what happens when political debates are dominated by fear tactics rather than by a reasonable assessment of evidence.” Likewise, Professor Boucai points out that because the wording of the bill is very ambiguous and broad, “merely proposing, debating, and promulgating these laws (…) chills speech, incites fear, and injures some of society’s most vulnerable members.” Conservative legislations that fearmonger about repressing minorities continue to hinder the progress made by the queer community.

LGBTQ in South Korea

A member of Korea University (KU) Central Queer Club People to People, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, spoke of their experiences of being a sexual minority in South Korea. “Though my sexuality and orientation are big parts of my identity, I cannot disclose it publicly due to societal norms. Odd looks I receive when I hold hands with my same-sex partner while walking down the street and the array of hate comments normalized in online KU communities make it painfully clear that the status of LGBTQ rights in South Korean society is yet to reach the necessitated level.”

LGBTQ individuals in South Korea remain vulnerable to hate speech, abuse, and social ostracization. An overwhelming majority of South Korean LGBTQ individuals report having been exposed to some form of abuse due to their sexuality. A 2021 study conducted by the Justice Party (JP) reports that 73.3 percent of LGBTQ individuals conceal their sexuality at their workplace in fear of being discriminated against; a staggering 97.1 percent of respondents feel as if Korean society is particularly hostile toward LGBTQ citizens.

Issues of LGBTQ rights have often been pushed away to the margins of the South Korean political agenda. The nation does not recognize same-sex marriage and denies same-sex couples spousal health insurance benefits. The anti-discrimination bill, which is supported by more than 62 percent of South Korean nationals according to a national survey, has continuously failed to be ratified by Congress over the past fifteen years. The bill lays out 23 characteristics that are to be legally banned from being discriminated against, including gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, race, and forms of employment. The issue of sexuality has attracted the most prolific resistance, with conservatives claiming that the normalization of homosexuality would be unacceptable. Kim Tae Young, the chairman of United Christian Churches of Korea, represented the sentiment of homophobic conservative Christians when he argued that the anti-discrimination bill must be banned as it “protects homosexuals and prosecutes opposers of homosexuality.”

Hostility towards the LGBTQ movement conspicuous in Korean society can be traced back to traditional values rooted in Confucianism and Korean Protestantism, which also maintain a significant influence on Korean politics. South Korean politicians have been accused of overtly voicing anti-LGBTQ beliefs and being timid in ratifying the anti-discrimination bill to retain the support of conservative Protestants. As politics become more threadbare and political polarization deepens, politicians cannot risk losing such a big voter base.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has aggravated the prejudices faced by the nation’s LGBTQ movement, with some activists lamenting that much of their hard-fought progress has all been nullified. In May 2020, an outbreak in nightclubs in Itaewon attracted scrutiny, especially due to the South Korean government’s aggressive track-and-trace policies at the time which publicly disclosed the visited routes of all of the infected individuals. Journalism outlets fixated on the sexuality of those who were infected and the speculation of so-called “gay clubs” being an epicenter of the pandemic sparked national outrage. Imagery of debauched sexual activity accelerating the spread of COVID-19 established the image of “unclean” homosexuals, language employed 30 years ago in the U.S. at the height of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. As the personal information (e.g., workplaces and residential addresses) of those infected were circulated online, many individuals faced the threat of having their sexuality disclosed and subsequently losing their jobs and livelihoods.

Over the Rainbow

It is difficult to design a single, all-inclusive initiative that will safeguard the rights of all LGBTQ individuals due to the variety of situations that they face. One hard-line that cannot be compromised, however, is establishing a society where legal restrictions on the community are eliminated and all queer individuals are conclusively accepted.

Though the fundamental change of individual attitudes towards queer individuals should be the ultimate goal, the current state of societal hostility requires legal constraints that would formally bar the systematic discrimination of minorities. In South Korea, this would mean passing the anti-discrimination bill, which has long been the target of South Korean LGBTQ activists. This would subsequently require the mobilization and consolidation of the LGBTQ movement, as it asserts active political presence; the queer community in South Korea, however, is yet to build the necessary traction. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the human rights movement for sexual minorities has lost a lot of momentum,” People to People commented on the status of the South Korean LGBTQ movement. It is thus crucial that the movement mainly aims to build more social awareness and presence in the following years. “Active expression, support, and solidarity regarding political issues is a necessity,” stated the club.

The fundamental necessity of the LGBTQ movement remains high. To social minorities, coordination and aggregation are vital — a sense of belonging and community shield an individual from the attacks of hateful individuals. Representation, despite its fallacies, is additionally instrumental in that it de-normalizes discrimination and helps improve mental health of LGBTQ youth by fostering a sense of belonging. LGBTQ representation has come a long way since the time when even modest representations led to the banning of content from mainstream media; today, we have the freedom to discern between good and bad representation. Continuing this trend of improvement, society should push for greater acceptance and exposure of LGBTQ individuals in all areas of society.

With the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, South Korea’s biggest pride demonstration, expected to resume offline marches next month thanks to the loosening of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Pride Month demands our collective attention now more than ever. Through commercials, media, and human-to-human interactions, LGBTQ individuals across borders strive to achieve one rudimentary goal: to be respected for what they are.

We conclude the article by directly quoting People to People. “Hate and discrimination will never be a net benefit for society, yet it threatens the very survival of numerous minorities who live in the same society as you. One’s sexuality or gender orientation can never fully define an individual; we exist in forms that are not so different from you. I want you to know that sexual minorities always exist around you, even though you may not realize it.”