Last week I called the Hong Kong Government's Home Affairs Branch to inquire on the status of the consultation studying discrimination based on sexual orientation. In particular I asked when the results of the study would be released to the public, and what progress had been made on the 'education' promised to the lesbian and gay community since last July when the Government successfully prevented even a debate from taking place in the Legco chamber.
I was told that the results of the consultation would be issued by the end of June. I have no idea why as a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Gay Coalition I wasn't then invited to attend the press conference Secretary for Home Affairs, Michael Suen was to give the next day.
Concerning the 'education' we were promised, I was referred to the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE). I contacted its secretary, a government employee, and he told me that it had only held one meeting so far in 1996 and that he couldn't recall the subject of homosexuality being addressed.
When I asked him how the issue could be placed on the agenda for the next meeting, he told me he had no idea. Mr Suen uses the phrase 'majority preference for administrative measures' in defending his opposition to legislation. But if as Mr Suen also claims there is general support to address the problems caused by discrimination based on sexuality, why would he be in favour of protecting all other oppressed groups with laws, but not lesbians and gay men? What makes us less equal than the rest of Hong Kong? If all of our Government's decisions were put to the voters for their input, nothing would get accomplished.
And why did Mr Suen refer to the religious bodies that 'were concerned about the possible impact of such legislation on young people', but make no reference to the many religious organisations supporting the legislation? I was raised believing that religion was about compassion, morality and making the world a better place. It tears me apart to realise that these churches have embarked on a gay bashing campaign of hatred.
Some of the submissions made reference to homosexuality being against traditional Chinese culture with the emphasis on family and marriage. Lesbians and gay men, for those who haven't learned anything during the whole consultation process, are in fact very much in support of both the family and marriage.