Viet Nam Human Rights
Vietnam - An incoming Disneyland for LGBT people
9/11/16
“On gay
rights, Vietnam is now more progressive than America”, was the headline posted
by NBC News
at early of this year. While that sentiment may be a little premature, LGBT
rights have certainly improved in the country in recent years. Though, LGBT
rights in Vietnam still have to face with conservative views on sexuality, a
plethora of LGBT support groups has been springing up across the country.
Gay marriage
is tolerated by the state, though same-sex couples don’t enjoy the
same rights as straight people. Last year, a gay pride event in Ho Chi Minh
city which attracted thousands of people was described Australian outlet ABC as
feeling like a “LGBT
Disneyland”. This rally aimed at encouraging as many people as
possible to come out and be comfortable with who they are, festival organizers
hope that this will be yet another step forward in getting the conservative
society to accept their LGBT friends and family.
In Asia,
LGBT groups are making progress, if slowly. There were other signs too of
Vietnam’s increasingly liberal attitude to LGBT issues in 2015, particularly
when the country passed a law
in December which would allow individuals who have undergone
reassignment surgery to register under a new gender. Another positive sign is that
the country's ministry of justice has backed plans to legalize gay marriage,
after the ministry of health came out for marriage equality.
“It was a
nice surprise. We expected to have this in 2015,” says Le Quang Binh, director
of the Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE), one of
the organizations vocal on LGBT issues. He feels that increased visibility of
the Vietnamese LGBT community and public education has led to this change in
the “communist one-party state” as called by the West.
AFP
reported: "Outward discrimination of the kind sometimes found in Western
countries is rare in Vietnam, possibly because homosexuality does not yet exist
as a firm concept in Vietnam and also because a large degree of same-sex
tactility is accepted as normal in Southeast Asian cultures. Male prostitution
and public sex venues are widespread in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Zoos,
parks, lakes, swimming pools and saunas have all been identified by state-run
media as venues for sex between men. Some same-sex couples have been more
visible about celebrating their relationships, organizing ceremonies to mark
civil unions even if they were not legally recognized.
In the
past five years, advocates have also stepped up efforts to change mindsets and
foster more discussion of LGBT issues. “We started to work with mass media in
2008 by providing training for journalists on homosexuality, same-sex marriage
and LGBT rights. We also organized public events such as an exhibition on
same-sex marriage, a contemporary play on same-sex relationships,
talk shows on television, research and workshops on LGBT issues, etc.” wrote Le
Quang Binh.
Though,
the Ministry of Justice stated that in order to ensure individual freedoms, marriage
between same-sex couples needs to be recognized. However, considering the
culture and traditions of the Vietnamese family and social sensitivity of the
issue, the social consequences of legal regulation are not predictable. Thus,
at this point, the recognition of marriage between same-sex couple is still too
early in Vietnam.
But, thanks
to the decision of MOJ, the media has focused on this topic and the social
debate has been stimulated. This is useful for social understanding and social
changes in support of LGBT rights. In addition, the LGBT community is also
mobilized and contributing to this social debate.
Same sex
marriage is a very new concept in Vietnam. There is still widespread social
stigma against homosexuals. Therefore, it is now up to the advocates to
capitalize on the announcement, which placed the issue in the spotlight, and
push their cause even further.
Meanwhile,
the LGBT community is mobilizing in Vietnam to raise their profile and reach
out to the wider public. The eyes of LGBT communities in Southeast Asia will
now be on Vietnam. If the government really passes the law to legalize gay
marriage, it could be a signal to other countries in the region to buck up.
If a Confucian society like Vietnam accepts gay
marriage, it will be not just a victory for Vietnam, but for LGBT movements all
across Asia who have been told that same-sex relationships are immoral, even in
more liberal Western societies and have no place alongside our Asian morals and
values. And if Vietnam could be the first domino in Asia when it comes to more
equality for the LGBT, well, that would be absolutely fabulous./.
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All comments [ 8 ]
Vietnam is a progressive country in LGBT rights. Same sex activity has always been legal in country, and there is an equal age of consent.
Outward discrimination of the kind sometimes found in Western countries is rare in Vietnam, possibly because homosexuality does not yet exist as a firm concept in Vietnam and also because a large degree of same-sex tactility is accepted as normal in Southeast Asian cultures.
A study also found that 80 percent of high school students in Ho Chi Minh City do not think homosexuality is bad, and that only 2 percent of students frowned on peers upon finding out their sexuality.
Which is why everyone was stunned when Vietnam’s Ministry of Justice announced at the end of July that the government is considering legalizing same-sex marriage.
Increased visibility of the Vietnamese LGBT community and public education has led to this change in the communist one-party state.
Same sex marriage is a very new concept in Vietnam. There is still widespread social stigma against homosexuals, but we have made a lot of progresses.
I think Vietnam has a tolerant view on the LGBT more than many Western countries.
Yes, the LGBT community is mobilizing in Vietnam to raise their profile and reach out to the wider public.
Your comments