Transsexuals call for laws to help minorities
After legal victory allowing her to wed, ‘W’ says the fight is not over and leading campaigner says more must be done to end discrimination
While the transsexual identified only as W can look forward at last to a "magical" wedding to her boyfriend, she says much more needs to be done to protect sexual minorities in Hong Kong.
Top of the list are new laws against discrimination, W and fellow transsexual Mimi Wong said after yesterday's landmark ruling by the top court.
W, who is in her 30s, stressed her win was no accident. "I have kept fighting for my rights after much difficulty. Life is not about giving up - and I'm the example."
But she declared the court decision was not enough. "The government should have laws to safeguard transsexual women from discrimination," she said.
One example, she said, was some employers' unwillingness to hire people like her.
Wong, who was laid off from her bank job in 2009 while awaiting sex-change surgery and has been unable to find another despite holding three degrees, agreed.
"We want a law that will provide protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups at the workplace, at school and other aspects," Wong said, adding that she would now begin a campaign for such a law.