Lionesses, a K-pop group formed in South Korea, is the first LGBTQ+ K-pop boy band to claim this title. The group’s debut song “Show Me Your Pride” was released earlier this week in the hope of encouraging other gay Koreans to discover their own pleasure and happiness.
The song is about LGBTQ+ issues such as coming out, dealing with anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, and more. The YouTube description of the video reads, “Let me see your pride. You’re the one who shines like stars because you are unique.”
Damjun, Kanghan, Lee Marlang, and Foxman are the four-member band. Damjun and Foxman previously worked as management representatives for K-pop companies, according to information they gave to a local news network.
The real savanna leader, they declared, inspired their bands name.
“We often assume that the male lion with the thick bushy mane at the top of the African ecosystem’s food chain, which we see on television, is the predator. The lioness, however, holds true power. It’s a group of lionesses in command of the pack’s hunting that runs things.” Damjun informed.
The members got acquainted through visiting LGBTQ-friendly locations and networking over their shared goal of making music with people who feel the same way they do.
“I think that Korean society is still very conservative — although it’s considerably better than it was previously — and I believe our views and perceptions will continue to change in the future,” Foxman added.
The death of Byun Hee-soo, a transwoman who was dismissed from the military, serves as an illustration of South Korea’s traditional culture. Last month, a court in the country ruled that the military had wrongfully dismissed her; however, before hearing this decision, Hee-soo killed herself in March.
“Wouldn’t it have been great if she could have cried a little less? She was a solider who dedicated her life to defending this nation,” he remarked.
Their music has focused on LGBTQ acceptance. Damjun stated, “This is who we are” as the major message of “Show Me Your Pride.”
“Love yourself as a minority entails a lot of struggle and thought,” Lee Marlang stated “This is due to the fact that society is violent, prejudice and oppression are widespread.”
“We want to play the role of a lighthouse so that young LGBTQ people who wish to be musicians do not miss their opportunity due to their fear,” Damjun added. “I needed that light when I was 18 years old, but I didn’t have it,” he continued. “For world peace and minority liberation, I want to shine that light.”
The other members of the band echoed this same sentiment.
“I wanted to illustrate how perceptions are changing in Korea and that they are not the same as before,” Foxman added. “We will show you a nation that is improving gradually.”
The band announced that their next single will be released in December.
According to The South China Morning Post, the Ivan City Queer Cultural Fund of the Korean LGBTQ+ rights group Beyond the Rainbow Foundation assisted in production.
Several out LGBTQ+ artists can be found in South Korea, including K-pop star Holland and R&B artist MRSHLL, according to the news source. Jiae of Wa$$up, who revealed that she was bisexual or Hansol of Xeno-T and Topp Dogg, who declared himself asexual, are several former LGBTQ+ idols who have come out.
South Korea has yet to adopt federal anti-discrimination legislation to safeguard LGBTQ+ people, and there is still a large stigma attached to being gay. Last year, after a surge of COVID-19 was linked to gay clubs in the country’s capital, Seoul, LGBTQ+ individuals in the nation faced a backlash.
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