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  • Writer's pictureAsians Lead

Asian LGBTQ+ Youth

Updated: Jul 2, 2020

By Sophia Shi



Introduction


As progressive as Asian countries have become, they still fall behind other parts of the world in one specific area: rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. The rejection of LGBTQ people is endemic across Asia, especially when it comes to legal protections like marriage equality and non-discrimination laws. Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized in South Korea, same-sex sexual activity is imprisonable in Bangladesh, and LGTBQ people are still unable to serve in the military in multiple countries.


Discrimination across Asia


In South Korea, the LGBTQ community exists like a hidden society -- members often refer to themselves as i-ban-in, meaning “second class-citizens.” Specifically, South Korea’s intolerance stems from its highly conservative society that emphasizes gender traditional gender norms; as a result, 58% of the country is against same-sex marriage.

Furthermore, Asian countries like South Korea and the Philippines have dominant Catholic populations -- meaning that LGBTQ youth grow up listening to sermons that homosexuality is a sin and brings disease. However, discrimination does not only exist in Asian countries -- it is carried over to the United States, where LGBTQ Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to fight for acceptance.


Family vs. Self


According to Glenn Magpantay, the executive director of The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, coming out is made especially difficult for LGBTQ Asian American and Pacifc Islander immigrants because “[their] parents have sacrificed greatly to give [them] a better life.” In turn, fear of disrespecting their parents combined with wanting to honor family tradition prevents Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from coming out and feeling comfortable with their personal identities.

Additionally, in Asian culture, marriage, the family unit, filial piety -- these are all especially powerful and enforced traditional values. In fact, Hieu Nguyen, founder for Viet Rainbow of Orange County, describes that “many times, family honor and protecting the family takes precedence over one’s individual stories and identities.” Again, this causes LGBTQ Asian youth to feel obligated in suppressing their identities.


The Result


Unfortunately, these cultural values and familial strains result in LGBTQ Asian Americans feeling and experiencing isolation and attack. A 2019 study by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation in partnership with the University of Connecticut found that Asian American and Pacific Islander LGBTQ youth are at a heightened risk for discrimination at home and in school.

The report, which analyzed responses from almost 1,200 young people across the United States, found that only 19 percent of Asian American and Pacific Islander LGBTQ youth said they could “definitely” be themselves at home, while only 29 percent said they could “definitely” be themselves at school.


Conclusion


It’s clear that efforts to empower and embrace LGBTQ Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders need to be increased and re-doubled. Especially in recognizing that June is LGBTQ Pride Month, it’s important for all of us to protest against harmful policies and practices, address negative LGBTQ portrayals in the media, and acknowledge the experiences of LGBTQ Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.


Sources

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