농인이 만든 혐오 없는 ‘대안수어’…LGBT 배워볼까

The ability to communicate effectively is akin to broadening the scope of one's thoughts. Whether one communicates through spoken words or gestures, the inclusivity of the message is crucial. This holds true for both heterosexual individuals and those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Ujyong, a 36-year-old farmer and openly gay individual, sought to better understand his own identity and felt the need for a language that could describe him without discrimination.

He recounted how he had previously been taught to fear homosexuality in school and church, and even prayed to be "made straight." In Korean Sign Language, terms for gay and lesbian individuals are explicit and derogatory. Ujyong firmly believes that if a neutral alternative language had been available, more farmers who are part of the LGBTQ+ community would have openly come out and recognized that their feelings were valid.

In 2019, Ujyong was assigned to interpret sign language for a documentary focused on the LGBTQ+ community at the Seoul International Film Festival. What they discovered was that sign language interpreters were using discriminatory terms. This motivated him to create a new set of alternative sign language, which he named "LGBT+," along with other LGBTQ+ individuals.

This alternative sign language challenges the traditional binary view of gender and identity. In this system, "marriage" is represented by a gesture that combines the fists of a man and a woman, symbolizing equality regardless of gender. The term for "gender identity" in this alternative language rejects the idea of gender as a binary, with a gesture that separates the symbols for male and female and makes a displeased face.

Ujyong noted that alternative sign language is widely used among farmers who identify as LGBTQ+, but they still face difficulties when using these signs in public, as traditional sign language is the official one. He emphasized that it is crucial for organizations, like the National Language Institute, to officially recognize alternative sign languages to make farmers who are part of the LGBTQ+ community feel more comfortable and accepted.

The National Language Institute plans to review this alternative sign language next year, but their hesitance may stem from concerns about the frequency of usage and potential embarrassment for farmers who adopt it. Ujyong urged the National Language Institute to sincerely support LGBTQ+ farmers and not exclude them from the language used in farming society.