Letters | Gay rights in Hong Kong need more than Ossan’s Love to thrive: make it law

The government’s ambiguous attitude towards same-sex relationships is undoubtedly an obstacle to progress on equal rights

Hong Kong

Letters

Published: 7:00am, 30 Jul, 2021

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I am writing in response to your poll question in the Letters to the Editor page on July 27, and would like to express my views regarding on attitudes towards same-sex relationships in Hong Kong.

The ViuTV romcom Ossan’s Love, depicting the still-taboo topic in the city, was a huge hit, with fans ranging from youngsters to the middle-aged.

The series achieved a viewership rating of 6.4 in its first week, peaking at 8.7 points, indicating a relatively wide audience base. Public acceptance of LGBT groups or sexual minority rights, however, does not seem to extend much further.

Influenced by traditional Chinese cultural values, the standpatters believe that a family must without doubt be formed by two people of opposite sexes, with procreation lying at the heart of the debate.

Those opposed to same-sex relationships or same-sex marriage often put the city’s low-birth rate in the spotlight, arguing it is the responsibility of couples to reproduce, a duty which same-sex partners cannot naturally fulfil.

Given that the freedom of marriage rights often shows the openness of a region, how can Hong Kong sustain its reputation as “Asia’s World City” when it cannot further accept and protect the rights of this minority?

12:25

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Let’s call a spade a spade. Marriage equality does not change one’s sexuality and it does not affect the willingness to give birth to children. It is not uncommon to find “dual income, no kids” or DINK couples, who intend to have children later or not at all in a career-oriented society. It is ridiculous for those asserting traditional values to overlook this reality.

The Hong Kong government’s ambiguous attitude towards same-sex relationships is undoubtedly an obstacle to progress on this matter.

LGBT people have a voice, and Hong Kong is keen to listen: even if its leader won’t

It has been two decades since 1991, when the Legislative Council decriminalised same-sex acts; and in 2020 the judiciary allowed same-sex couples to have equal right to inheritance, but same-sex unions or civil partnerships are still a long way from being legally recognised.

LGBT rights are universal human rights. It is crucial for the authorities to change the perspective of the public towards this sexual minority group by legalisation. It would be rather difficult to do so with just a few episodes of a television series, however popular it may be.

Peter Lau, Kwun Tong

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