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Liz Heron

The Anglican Communion's  first openly gay bishop urged Hong Kong's gays  to stand up for their  rights at a talk hosted by liberal Christian groups.
The Right Reverend Gene Robinson,  whose ordination in 2003 nearly split the  church in two, addressed  more than 90 people at City University yesterday on securing justice for sexual minorities.
Bishop  Robinson spoke frankly of the personal journey that led him through marriage to open acceptance of his homosexuality, a long-term gay relationship and becoming the Episcopal bishop of the American diocese of New Hampshire.
He answered questions  about how to deal with the challenge of being gay or lesbian in Hong Kong's 'don't ask, don't tell' culture that tended to sweep homosexuality under the carpet.
'What I can tell you as a gay man is that when someone wants either to protect me or protect themselves by not acknowledging what I am, it hurts me,' he said. 'If I have to address my partner as my friend, that belittles not only my partner but [also] me.
'I would want to see us all move to a place where we can acknowledge and honour different choices that we have made. I also think its best to speak the truth.'
A gay man, who attended the talk with his partner and his mother, told the bishop that they had two four-year-old twins and used to get together with other gay families, but some families had shunned them because they were too 'out'.
Mr Robinson advised him to 'get to know some straight people with kids who aren't embarrassed to be seen with you'.
'Some people are not strong enough to hang in there with you when you come out but others will,' he said. 'There are lots of heterosexual people who are there to support us. It's sad and complicated. We are living in this very funny, transitional time. But 20 years from now, we are going to wonder what all the fuss was about.'
The talk was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Christian Institute, Hong Kong Christian Women Council, the Spiritual Seekers Society and the University of Hong Kong's faculty of education.
Gigi Lo Sin-chi , an education officer and member of the Lutheran church,  said she had found  the talk inspiring
'It is good for Hong Kong because most people in our churches usually are against gay people,' she said.



Stand up for your rights, says gay bishop