Deaf LGBTQ+ Activist Creates Inclusive Sign Language for Identity

For deaf LGBTQ+ individuals in South Korea, existing sign language terms for their identities are often rooted in prejudice and misunderstanding. Woo Ji-yang, a leading activist with Korean Deaf LGBT+, is working to change this by creating and promoting alternative signs that foster self-acceptance and pride.

“

If there had been alternative sign language early on, there would have been many more deaf people who came out, and they would have realized that deaf LGBTQ+ people are not wrong but can have pride.

Woo, who is both deaf and gay, experienced firsthand the harm caused by derogatory sign language. He recalls being told in sex education classes that gay people should "watch out for AIDS" and hearing in church that gay people should "not be gay." These messages led him to pray to become heterosexual. In Korean Sign Language, "gay" is signed as "a man who has anal sex," and "lesbian" as "a woman who rubs bodies with women." Woo believes that if inclusive alternative signs had existed earlier, more deaf LGBTQ+ individuals might have come out and felt pride in their identities.

“

The crowd is here to pray for me and for the success of Mr President. Our party is synonymous with keeping our word. We pray that Almighty Allah will give him (the President) the wisdom to lead this country. We assure Nigerians that we shall fulfil all our campaign promises.

The initiative to develop these alternative signs began in 2019 when Woo was asked to review the sign language interpretation for the Seoul Queer Film Festival. He noticed that the interpretation used hateful signs. This prompted him to gather deaf LGBTQ+ individuals of various identities to create new, respectful terms. Their alternative signs challenge the deeply ingrained gender binary in deaf society. For instance, "marriage," traditionally signed as a union between "man" and "woman," is now signed using a gesture from the "celebration" sign, forming an arch above the head, signifying that anyone can marry regardless of gender.

“

We have now observed what appears to be an ongoing dismantling of an aircraft at the domestic section of Murtala Muhammed Airport.

While these alternative signs are gaining traction within the deaf LGBTQ+ community, Woo emphasizes the crucial role of the National Institute of Korean Language. Currently, deaf individuals are often forced to use offensive official signs, creating a dilemma. Woo notes that sign language interpreters sometimes use the alternative signs at queer events but revert to hateful signs in news broadcasts. He urges the institute to officially register these inclusive signs in its dictionary. The institute is scheduled to review the terms this year, but Woo questions their commitment, citing requests for usage data that could put individuals at risk of being outed. "Please genuinely strive to help minorities," Woo appealed to the institute. "Deaf LGBTQ+ people also use sign language as their primary language. Do not exclude us from the deaf community."

“

During the review period, the NFIU received a total of 41,716,214 CTRs, 42,082 STRs, and 10,513 SARs.