Woman tricked homophobes to donate to Pride organisers

A South Korean writer has been fined for trolling homophobes that were attacking her pro-LGBT+ appearance on a TV show.

Feminist writer Eun Ha-sun took part in the Candid Men and Women show on South Korean channel Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) discussing sexual orientation and gender identity in December 2017, The Korea Herald reported.

Anti-LGBT religious viewers took issue with the programme and barraged Eun and others who appeared on the show with criticism.

“Dear children of God who oppose homosexuality. The producer’s contact number of ‘Candid Men and Women’ has been changed. Make sure to text to this number: #2540-6550.” (Eun Ha-Sun/Facebook)

The writer, who has often been outspoken in her support of LGBT+ issues, then decided to write a post on social media directing those who wanted to complain about the show to a phone number.

“Dear children of God who oppose homosexuality. The producer’s contact number of ‘Candid Men and Women’ has been changed. Make sure to text to this number: #2540-6550,” the post read.

Contrary to her claim, the number directed to donating the equivalent of £2 to the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, the group that organises the annual LGBT+ Pride event held in the South Korean capital.

“None of this would have happened had there not been hatred towards LGBT+ people.”

— Eun Ha-sun

Around 90 people unknowingly made the donations, but a court fined Eun for the equivalent of £1,375 at a ruling on Monday (November 19) as part of a religious group’s lawsuit against the writer.

Eun plans to appeal the verdict at a further court appearance scheduled for December 7, claiming that it was clear her post was a joke.

“It wouldn’t make sense for someone who had been on the show for a year to share a producer’s personal phone number or encourage people to text complaints,” she told The Herald.

• Nov 29

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