Google backs Korea’s 15th gay festival

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Google backs Korea’s 15th gay festival

Google Korea said yesterday it will officially support sexual minorities in Korea by participating in the 2014 Korea Queer Festival, a street parade for sexual minorities.

Google has actively supported sexual minorities including lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders in other countries, but this is the first time it has been involved in such an event in Korea.

It condemned Russia’s anti-homosexuality bill during the Sochi Winter Olympics by altering the Google Doodle on its home page to a six-color design that referenced the rainbow symbolizing sexual minorities.

The doodle also carried a quote from the Olympic charter on the subject of non-discrimination.

This year’s Korea Queer Festival will be the 15th, according to the Korea Queer Festival Organizing Committee, and it will start with a street parade on June 7. It will also include other events such as exhibitions, performances, parties and film festivals through June 15, under the theme “Love Conquers Hate.”

“Diversity is an important part of Google’s culture, and we officially support sexual minorities through participation in Korea’s largest queer cultural festival as a partner,” said a Google Korea spokesperson.

Last June, around 10,000 citizens attended the festival held around Hongdae, the hip neighborhood of Hongik University in western Seoul.

“The queer cultural festival is not only for sexual minorities but also for the general public to enjoy and share different opinions,” said a spokesman for the event’s organizing committee. “Interest and participation of the general public have been increasing every year.”

Other global IT companies also support the rights of sexual minorities.

Facebook added more than 50 gender options in its profile settings for American and British users, such as asexual and intersex.

BY KIM JUNG-YOON [kjy@joongang.co.kr]


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