Across the world, members of the LGBTQ+ community have faced widespread discrimination in their daily lives. With 72 countries criminalizing homosexuality and another 167 banning same-sex marriage, the global community is far from equal when it comes to sexual orientation. In South Korea, where gay marriage is illegal and representation for the LGBTQ+ community is almost non-existent, progress has been equally slow. However, one student group, Q-Dong, is hoping to combat discrimination and carve out a safe space on the Songdo campus. In an interview with Alexa Bituin (´21 Accounting), a founding member of the club, she was able to explain the importance of Q-Dong for George Mason University Korea.
Alexa explained that Q-Dong started as a club, run by the Utah University Asia Campus, dedicated to providing an on-campus safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community. When asked about the role of the club today she explained, ̈Q-Dong is both a safe space as well as an organization that educates the student body on LGBTQ+ issues.¨ Last semester, for example, the club organized a drag show, a popular fashion show in the LGBTQ+ community, in which performers dress as the opposite gender and lip-sync to songs. They also held Pride Week, a week-long event on campus, to spread awareness on LGBTQ+ issues. These two activities, according to Alexa, were significant in increasing representation for the LGBTQ+ community and creating a more inclusive environment on campus.
When asked further about the importance of informing people about these issues, she simplified, ¨As many Koreans come from socially conservative families, they don´t even know that certain things they do can be viewed as homophobic.̈ For example, the word ¨gay¨ is commonly used as an insult used to humiliate a man. Q-Dong has provided opportunities to break down these preconceived biases and healthily address these actions. This has slowly allowed understanding across identity groups, the first step towards equality. This understanding, as Alexa further explained, is important for non-queer Mason Korea students as it ¨allows them to better understand different cultures before they go to Fairfax.¨ While the group might be focused on the problems faced by the LGBTQ+ community, when these issues are resolved, everyone benefits. Alexa is hopeful that through the actions of the club, and the involvement of the student body, real progress can be made to combat the discrimination currently present on campus. Additionally, she noted that the general public perception of the LGBTQ+ community has improved in South Korea as more public figures, such as K-pop star Som Hye, provide support for the LGBTQ+ community.
When questioned why she joined the group, Alexa highlighted the spirit of Q-Dong, concluding, ̈I joined Q-Dong because I like to help people… it hurts to see members of the LGBTQ community discriminated against.¨ She explained that if more people shared this mentality, people would be more willing to help others they traditionally do not identify with.
While Q-Dong may not single-handedly solve the issues of homophobia within the country of South Korea, by providing a vital safe space for members of the LGBTQ+, the club is actively playing a role in fighting for a more inclusive culture on campus. Q-Dong firmly acts as an example that through patience, education, and empathy, we can all come together in harmony - regardless of sexuality or gender identity.
Written by Matthew Mandell | Staff Writer
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