Hong Kong LGBT community calls on government to follow Taiwan’s lead on legalising same-sex marriage, but equality watchdog rejects move
- Newly appointed chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission says jurisdictions are different and a measured approach is preferred locally
- Campaigners however argue that he has a duty to speak out against conservative voices in city
Equal Opportunities Commission chairman Ricky Chu Man-kin expressed preference for a step-by-step approach, starting with anti-discrimination initiatives.
On Friday Taiwan’s legislature voted to legalise same-sex marriage in a landmark decision, following a 2017 constitutional court ruling that the marriage laws then were unconstitutional and that same-sex couples had a right to enjoy a legal union.
LGBT groups in Hong Kong reacted with joy and excitement to the developments in the neighbouring jurisdiction, which came as the local community held its annual flagship event “An evening of solidarity” at Chater Garden in Central, to mark the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
“It is very encouraging news to us, what has happened in Taiwan today, I hope this can focus minds and rally support here in Hong Kong,” said Jerome Yau, co-founder of Hong Kong Marriage Equality, a newly formed campaign group seeking to replicate Taiwan’s success story.
“Taiwan’s experience exposes the common fallacy that same-sex marriage is a Western product for Western societies, the key message today is – love is universal.”
Taiwan’s experience exposes the common fallacy that same-sex marriage is a Western product for Western societies, the key message today is – love is universal