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More than 200 Filipino domestic helpers, many of them Catholics, marched in the streets of Central yesterday to voice support for gays and lesbians within the migrant community, three days after the city's top Catholic cleric criticised same-sex marriage.
Dancing to a pop song called Break the Chain, the jubilant protesters waved rainbow flags outside City Hall and chanted "stop, stop, stop discrimination!"
READ MORE: Gay pride in Hong Kong: top diplomats join 10,000 in march after top Catholic's anti-gay letter causes outrage
They then walked to Chater Road near the Court of Final Appeal and held street performances while enjoying their weekly day off from work.
"We are gathering to show solidarity with the local gay pride march yesterday," Filipino Lesbian Organisation chairman Ivan Delfin, 33, said.
The annual gay pride march held on Saturday was one of the largest in recent years, with more than 9,500 attending, including 10 foreign diplomats.
Just two days earlier, Cardinal John Tong Hon, leader of the city's 379,000 Catholics, appealed to his flock to consider candidates' views on gay rights when voting in the November 22 district council elections, as certain social movements "are challenging and twisting" core local values on marriage and family.

Delfin, a domestic helper of more than a decade in Hong Kong, said the city still held much prejudice against homosexuals.
"Once, I tried going to a female public toilet and a security guard did not let me go in because she said I look like a boy," Delfin, a lesbian, said.
She claimed to have lesbian friends whose job contracts were terminated when their employers discovered their sexual orientation.
Some employers accept them ... Even in the Philippines, some people accept them
Beth Perez
"Some employers, especially if they had daughters, thought we might molest them and be a bad influence," she said.
"They also give us clothes for women, but we don't feel comfortable wearing them … Sometimes, this leads to arguments."
Some domestic helpers in the march who were straight felt the city was open to homosexuality.
"Some employers accept them," Beth Perez, 45, said. "Even in the Philippines, some people accept them."
Despite being a Catholic, Perez said she did not feel bad about backing lesbians. "I support them because I feel [for] them."
One helper shook her head with disapproval when asked about the rally. "They do this all the time … I am in the middle."


Catholic Filipinos in Hong Kong join protest to call for gay and lesbian rights

Brightly attired Filipino helpers walk to Chater Road to show solidarity with a gay pride march held the day before. Photos: Edward Wong

Brightly attired Filipino helpers walk to Chater Road to show solidarity with a gay pride march held the day before.Photos: Edward Wong

The 200-odd protesters call for an end to discrimination.

Gay pride in Hong Kong: top diplomats join 10,000 in march after top Catholic's anti-gay letter causes outrage

Hong Kong's streets were coloured by rainbow flags as protesters marched in the city's annual gay pride parade this Saturday. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Leung Kwok-hung, a member of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, takes part in the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) parade in Hong Kong calling for equality and same-sex marriage. Photo: AFP

. Photo: AFP

A Participant of the LGBT community march wears a Darth Vader mask during the 13th annual Taipei Gay Pride march in Taipei at the end of October. Photo: EPA

A participant holds a placard demanding the rights for gay couples to have babies during the annual pride parade in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters

The pride parade came two days after Hong Kong's Catholic bishop commented that gay rights movement has 'shaken our society to its core'. Photo: AP

Hong Kong's Gay Pride march attracted its largest numbers in history. Image: Twitter Gay Star News

Participants participate in a gay pride parade in Taipei at the end of October. Photo: AP

Hong Kong's Gay Pride march attracted its largest numbers in history. Photo: Facebook

Former health chief York Chow (3rd right) took part in the annual Pride Parade. Photo: SCMP Pictures

‘Homosexuality just like drug abuse’: Hong Kong bishop defends anti-gay stance of Cardinal John Tong Hon

Bishop Michael Yeung enters the debate on homosexuality. Photo: Edward Wong

Bishop Michael Yeung enters the debate on homosexuality: Photo: Nora Tam

Bishop Michael Yeung’s comments come the morning after some 10,000 people gathered for the annual gay pride march. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Cardinal John Tong Hon

Catholic bishop of Hong Kong hits out at gay marriage and tells flock to consider the issue before voting

John Tong had strong words for those advocating gay rights. Photo: K. Y. Cheng  

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