Gay and lesbian couples want equal protection under the law
It is more than a little frustrating that most people in Hong Kong have the same view as Paul Kokoski ('Same-sex marriage undermines the family', January 17).
What he does not realise is that most gays and lesbians are interested in the civil and not the religious aspect of marriage. We don't want to go into your churches and force you or anyone else to believe in or condone something you don't believe in.
We simply want equal protection under the law as guaranteed under the Basic Law of Hong Kong and countless other constitutions around the world. Just like heterosexual couples, we want the legal benefits and protection that come with marriage such as tax benefits, rights relating to children, the ability to make health care decisions for each other and for our estate to pass easily upon our deaths.
Mr Kokoski says marriage is exclusive to one man and one woman with the ability and obligation to procreate. I suppose then that your correspondent, in addition to keeping gays and lesbians from the civil institution of marriage, supports banning old couples, barren women, impotent men and couples who don't want children, from getting married. He certainly can't be in the majority, can he?
Children of homosexual couples are every bit as healthy, smart and productive as those raised in heterosexual households.
William Yip, Sham Shui Po
