Rainbow Teen Safe Space

#LGBTIQ teenagers speak out about their housing rights!

A group of LGBTIQ youths who have left their "home" and are seeking to create "their own" gathered to discuss housing rights. During the discussion, the participants highlighted the reasons why they are advocating for youth housing rights as well as their specific needs and preferences in finding a place they can call home.

#A safe space for gender expression at DDing Dong!

Your generous donation has allowed us to create a safe and welcoming space for transgender and genderqueer youth at the DDing Dong Center, where they can explore and express their preferred gender identities. We have designated a special corner of the center for trying on diverse makeup products, binders (chest compression shirts), and selecting the perfect fit.

At DDing Dong, our goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment where young people of all gender identities in the LGBTIQ community can feel free and comfortable expressing their true selves with pride.

#DDing Dong's comprehensive psychological counseling support program launched in March!

At DDing Dong, we have found that mental health is a top concern for many LGBTIQ youth who seek our support. Unfortunately, these young people often face significant barriers to accessing professional counseling services, including financial constraints, stigma, and a lack of resources tailored to their unique needs.

Beginning in March 2023, DDing Dong will be partnering with a trusted private psychologist to offer comprehensive psychological counseling services for LGBTIQ youth in need. We are excited to take this important step forward in our mission to provide safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTIQ youth, and look forward to sharing more updates soon.

#"Invitation to the Rainbow School Opening Ceremony": A briefing session held on DDing Dong's new report focusing on the needs of improvement of the legal system to guarantee LGBTQ students' human rights.

On November 19th, we published a report which explored possible measures in the legal and institutional area for an inclusive school environment without discrimination against LGBTQ students. A briefing session was arranged to promote our research results and have meaningful deliberation with students, teachers, and officials in education field. All participants came together and discussed real-life concerns in terms of safegarding human rights of LGBTQ students.

 #Home, Pride Home Training Workshop

The "Home, Pride Home Project" aims to establish the first LGBTQ youth shelter in South Korea. Moreover, we plan to provide for youth-related Korean social organizations knowledge and information in order for laying out queer friendly culture throughout the youth welfare network.
In September, we held a workshop to enhance LGBTQ human rights sensitivity and strengthen counseling/support capacity with 14 members of other youth-related organizations.

#Bisexual, Asexual and Intersex Visibility Day
In celebration of LGBTQ Visibility Month, we have prepared events to affirm and inform diverse identities.
- Bisexual Visibility Day(Sep 23)

- Asexual Visibility Week(Oct 23-29)

- Intersex Visibility Day(Oct 26)

#Daegu/Incheon Queer Culture Festival
LGBTQ youth from all over the country visited DDing Dong's festival booth and left post-it notes thinking of their neighbor queers.
"Sure. We have each other by ourside!" (Daegu)
"It must be frustrating because we don't know if there are queer people around us. But we're all here together, let's live it to our fullest! Let's hang in and grow up to adult queers! Guys, I love you! " (Incheon)
We also took many Polaroid photos with doners holding hand signs representing pride at our festival booth, and enjoyed our pride parade together in the streets of Daegu and Incheon.

This is all we prepared for the news letter about our second half activities. A variety of other news are ready on our homepage and blog (Korean only). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by lgbtq@ddingdong.kr. Thank you.

Sincerely
From 2022, statistics about counseling and crisis support are to be integrated and noticed at the beginning of each year. You can see more detailed counseling statistics on our homepage. (Korean only)

Translated by Duri

Hello, this is DDing Dong. How have you been in the first half of this year? DDing Dong has moved to more comfortable and more accessible center. We have not been able to hold diverse offline events due to COVID-19 since 2020, but we participated in Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF) finally held in three years, and met many LGBTQ youths, promoting our organization DDing Dong. Also, we went to Los Angeles, visiting organizations that help youths with shelter and housing for our Home, Pride Home project. In the second half of this year, we plan to meet LGBTQ youths in our new center and continuously send Rainbow Kits to LGBTQ runaway youths.

#Rainbow Kits

We consistently send kits containing foods and necessaries to LGBTQ runaway youths. From this year, we send Rainbow Kits not only to LGBTQ youths in their 10s but also to LGBTQ youths in their early 20s. When sending kits, we help them with counseling and supporting, and check whether they have other worries or difficulties. In the first half of this year, cosmetic brands such as LUSH Korea, DECIEM, and ISNTREE helped us make ample kits by their campaigns and donating goods.

#Happy Pride, Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF)

DDing Dong also joined in Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF). By opening and running a booth, we gave ice cream to LGBTQ youths who are connected to us online. Also we ran a ‘fortune lot’ program. By this, we delivered their fortunes including proud messages full of support. This year, DDing Dong gave solidary speeches on congratulatory stage, delivering messages that all people can enjoy the festival without any discrimination regardless of their identites or ages. Though it rained heavily that day, we successfully ended the SQCF finishing with parade.

#DDing Dong’s volunteers, DDinga DDinga

‘DDinga DDinga’ program in which volunteers meet LGBTQ youths and do various activities together, has been running this year, too. In the first half, we did ‘Online Outreach’ program through regular meetings to think how we can meet LGBTQ youths online and non-face-to-face. Also, we planned surveys for HIV/AIDS and STIs, and are doing survey of Research on the experiences and recognitions about using condoms of LGBTQ youths in their 10s. DDinga DDinga plans to do other various activities untill the end of this year, so please look forward to them.

#Moving to the new space

DDing Dong had started first in Seongbuk-gu (District of Seoul) in 2015 and moved to Gangbuk-gu in 2018. Recently, we moved to Jangchung-dong in Seoul. The new center still has an open hall where LGBTQ youths can rest, eat and read, and cozy counseling rooms. Also we have telephone counseling rooms where we can counsel LGBTQ youths non-face-to-face (untact) and online. Lots of LGBTQ Youths curious about the new space visited and used the center.

This is all we prepared for the news letter about our first half activities. A variety of other news are ready on our homepage and blog (Korean only). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by lgbtq@ddingdong.kr. Thank you.

Sincerely

From 2022, statistics about counseling and crisis support are to be integrated and noticed at the beginning of each year. You can see more detailed counseling statistics on our homepage. (Korean only)

Translated by Duri, Thomas.

Hello, it's DDing Dong. This is our first letter in 2022 and we wish you a very happy new year! In the new year, we continue to outreach LGBTQ youth in need. Despite all difficulties caused by Covid-19, DDing Dong always has had our door open to LGBTQ youth and kept up with HOT-LINE counseling and crisis support. 

#Rainbow Kit

As last year, DDing Dong will keep providing Rainbow Kits consisted of food and basic living supplies to LGBTQ runaway youth. When delivering the Kits, we make sure whether our Kit users have other difficulties and help them by counseling and necessary support if they do. In 2021, we delivered Rainbow Kits to a total of 50 LGBTQ teenagers. From January to March 2022, 10 Rainbow Kits were sent and DDing Dong continues to provide our youths suitable support and be there for them. 

#Birthday celebrations for transgender youth

DDing Dong sends messages of support and congratulations with gifts to transgender youth on their birthdays. In 2021, we sent 54 messages and gifts to celebrate with them. From January to March 2022, 34 messages and gifts were sent. It is one of DDing Dong's core values that we welcome and embrace transgender youth the way they are. We will keep on striving to make society more welcoming and supportive of transgender people.

# Publication and distribution of <The Key to Answering, Ver.2> that will solve curiosity about HIV/AIDS

This is a resource book containing 20 Q&As and information that teenagers can be curious about or face with regard to HIV/AIDS in their everyday lives. For example, it particularly provides information on HIV infection routes, prevention and testing methods. In addition, it is also designed to guide readers about appropriate manners when communicating with people living with HIV. By encompassing accurate and scientific information on HIV/AIDS, we hope to contribute to efforts to tackle misconceptions and hatred over them. The resource book was distributed not only to LGBTQ youth, but also to teachers and social workers who often meet young people.

# Publication and distribution of LGBTQ Youth Peer Support Kits (Guidebook)

LGBTQ Youth Peer Support Kit <It's okay to be different! - OO's book to get to know different identities> was published to help LGBTQ youth in occasion when they meet another LGBTQ youth of similar age or encounter words or actions that harass LGBTQ people. Through the guidebook, we hope to provide information about sexual minorities and raise awareness among young people who have been hesitant to act against such harrassment. This guidebook can also be useful for non-LGBTQ youth to get to know different genders/identities and learn to respect diversity. The guidebook and pride goods were distributed to teenagers, teachers and activists.

# "National Assembly, Enact Anti-Discrimination Law!"

DDing Dong joined an one-man protest and nonstop protest keepers' activity to rally collective action called "Let's Win 2021 Anti-Discrimination Law Enactment within the Year!"

# Please find out more on DDing Dong's 2021 activities through the attached resources.

Links:

• DDingDong_AnnualReport2021-2022(eng)

Check out the DDingDong news from August to December 2021.

#T_Go

Rainbow Navigation T_Go, a self-reliance program for transgender and genderqueer youth It is a program to provide necessary information and community experiences to transgender and genderqueer youth who are suffering from social prejudice and hatred. A special time for transgender/genderqueer youth who are struggling with gender identity and gender expression! We prepared 5 meetings where we could break free from the gender dichotomous frame and find a ‘me’ figure, expression, and life cycle together, practice the desired gender expression, and feel community experience, respect, and support.

#DDingDong PHOCHA

November 16th, Dingdong Pocha - Jongno area patrol

On the first Saturday night of every month, Ding-Dong and LGBT youth gathered at Ding-Dong Pocha in Jongno! Due to the spread of COVID-19, Dingdong Pocha has been suspended and the opportunity for meetings has decreased. The gradual recovery of daily life begins, and Ding-dong visited and investigated what the streets of Jongno look like now. I toured cafes and streets where many LGBTI people gathered, and distributed business cards and items to people to promote it.

With many people visiting Jongno, Insa-dong, and Ikseon-dong, the culture of LGBT youth gatherings seemed to have faded somewhat. Let Ding-Dong become a hill for young LGBT people! We will continue to provide counseling support and plan various programs and meetings in line with our daily recovery.

#DDing Dong Report

DDingDong aims to make changes so that LGBT people can be safe and comfortable in all youth institutions, including shelters, and to create 'Home PRIDE HOME', an alternative residential space for Dingdong that is open 24 hours a day. .

As part of the 'Home Pride Home' project, Ding-Dong conducted a basic survey on 'The Anxieties and Experiences of LGBTI youths leaving home'. Their concerns were shared, and the result report of Dingdong's Basic Survey on the Anxieties and Experiences of LGBTI youths leaving their homes was published.

We have sent this report to 147 youth shelters across the country where they can meet LGBTI youth in need.

#Activities to finance the Anti-Discrimination Act

In June, petitions for public consent demanding the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act reached 100,000. Although the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee is obligated to review the bill, it has not reviewed it for more than half a year, and even said that it would postpone the review until May 2024, the last of the 21st National Assembly term. Those in charge continue to delay the enactment of the anti-discrimination law, talking about 'social consensus', but 'we are society' that supports LGBTQ people and LGBTQ people! Dingdong is also participating in the campaign to enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination law as soon as possible.

"Young LGBTI people are here, stop 'later' and enact an anti-discrimination law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity!"