In Korea gay people don’t exist. In the media especially, in public rarely and in private possibly. Obviously just because the government states that homosexuality is a treatable mental illness (and undesirable)….doesn’t mean there isn’t a small queer population that comes together to celebrate who they are and have a little fun.
In the basement of a bar in Itaewon every Friday night locals and expats gather to watch Seoul’s only regular drag cabaret. It was sort of liberating to watch these hilarious diva’s on stage as they teased the audience. The Korean’s in the crowd looked so hungry for this liberal laid back gay friendly atmosphere…I was sort of saddened to know that most of them leave this safe place to return home to a conservative and unloving atmosphere which most often banishes their children from the family if they ever do have the courage to out themselves. It was clear they take solace here on Friday nights, chirping on the lip syncing talent as they sing along to Britney Spears, Cher and Judy Garland.
