Education Ministry slammed for removing 'sexual minorities' from anti-hate guide

The Ministry of Education is facing intense criticism from education, human rights, and religious organizations for removing content related to sexual minorities from a guidebook intended to address hate speech and discrimination in schools. Critics are demanding an immediate and comprehensive review of the "Hate Speech Response Guidebook."

The Rainbow Action, a coalition of South Korean LGBTQ+ rights organizations, stated that removing sexual minorities from the guide in response to "counter-petitions" is itself an act of discrimination and hate. The group argued that ignoring the harassment and discrimination faced by sexual minority youth makes it impossible to create safe and equal schools. They are calling for the immediate restoration of the content and the implementation of measures to prevent recurrence.

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Removing sexual minorities from the hate and discrimination response materials is hate and discrimination itself. Removing sexual minorities for this reason is discriminatory administrative action by the Ministry of Education and a declaration that it will not properly respond to hate and discrimination.

The National Solidarity for the Enactment of Anti-Discrimination Legislation also condemned the ministry's actions as a clear instance of discrimination, particularly concerning the current administration's stated goals of enacting various laws and policies to eliminate hate and discrimination. The organization emphasized that equality cannot be achieved by excluding certain groups and urged the Ministry of Education to disclose the details of the incident and apologize for its discriminatory practices.

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The Ministry of Education should be ashamed for neglecting students and teachers who are actively confronting hate, by omitting sexual minorities.

The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) expressed shame over the ministry's decision, stating that by omitting sexual minorities, the ministry is neglecting students and teachers actively combating hate speech. The KFTA called the removal of rights recognized by UNESCO and international human rights standards a "global disgrace" and a declaration that the Ministry of Education is abandoning its educational responsibilities. They demanded the immediate suspension of the guidebook's distribution and a complete revision.

Similarly, the Jogye Order's Social Labor Committee voiced concern, questioning what hope marginalized groups in South Korea can have if even the Ministry of Education holds such views. They declared their opposition to any discrimination against sexual minorities and called for the immediate enactment of an anti-discrimination law. The controversy arose after the ministry removed all content related to sexual minorities from the guidebook, which was created in response to an incident where a high school baseball team mocked the May 18 Gwangju Uprising. Six out of seven experts who reviewed the guidebook at the ministry's request have reportedly expressed strong opposition and offered to resign.

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The Ministry of Education's current stance is a clear discrimination that has been repeatedly occurring in Korea. There can be no equality achieved by excluding someone.