Tag: Hong Kong

Hong Kong has made spousal visas available to same-sex couples for the first time in the wake of a court ruling—but the government has firmly ruled out permitting same-sex marriage. Hong Kong only recognises marriage as between a man and a woman, but the international business hub has come under pressure from employers and LGBT+ activists to respect the rights of same-sex couples. In July, Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal ruled that same-sex couples who have entered unions elsewhere must...

Hong Kong’s Immigration Department has lost a longtime battle over the rights of same-sex couples. A British lesbian named QT has been fighting with the government since 2011 in order to get the same visa and immigration rights as straight couples. Having married her partner in a UK civil partnership years before they moved tp Hong Kong in 2011, QT applied for a dependent visa during the transition. Unfortunately, the Hong Kong Immigration Department denied that visa as Hong Kong does...

Hong Kong will become the first city in Asia to host the Gay Games Hong Kong right to host the 2022 Gay Games has officially been sealed as its bidding committed signed the License Agreement with the Federation of Gay Games. In October last year, Hong Kong became the first Asian city to win the rights to host the big LGBTI sporting and culture event. Signing the agreement marks the official start for the preparation of Hong Kong’s Gay Games. The 9-day event...

LGBTQ awareness is at its peak in Hong Kong after the area had its ninth annual Pride parade. More than 10,000 people gathered to walk the streets and cry out for the termination of discrimination and the increase of legal rights and protections for LGBTQ people. This includes several supporters from countries like the USA, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and more. The theme for this year’s parade was “Turn the Tide, Walk With Pride – Discrimination Says Goodbye.” That mentality was carried...

Hong Kong will be the first Asian city to host the Gay Games. This announcement was made yesterday in Paris to the excitement of Hong Kong’s 13-member bidding team. Reports say that the team was screaming, hugging, and cheering as they greeted the news reporters covering the event. Hong Kong won over locations like Washington, D.C. and Guadalajara, Mexico. Bid chair Dennis Philipse spoke to the South China Morning Post about how proud he was of the result. “We fought tirelessly and are...

Hong Kong is getting ever closer to gaining more rights for LGBTQ people thanks to a gay man who’s challenging anti-gay laws in the region. In Hong Kong law, specifically in the Crimes Ordinance section, there are rules about homosexual buggery, gross indecency by man and the conduct of procuring young person to resort to, or be on premise or vessel, for intercourse, prostitution, buggery or homosexual act. Yeung Chu-wing, a 24-year-old volunteer for the LGBTQ rights group Rainbow Action, is...

Hong Kong courts just ruled in favor of same-sex couples. A British woman referred to as QT moved to Hong Kong back in 2011 when he was offered a job with a tech company. When QT moved, she also brought her partner SS who she’d been in a civil partnership. Problem is that Hong Kong’s laws don’t acknowledge same-sex marriages or even civil partnerships, so SS didn't recieve any spousal benefits that straight couples do. To combat this, QT filed a judicial...

'I think it's time for a lot of people in Asia to step out of the dark and into the light' The Hong Kong’s Gay Games bid team is feeling hopeful after a positive visit from games organizers. In June, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) went to Hong Kong to rate its sporting and cultural facilities. The island city is hoping to host the 2022 games and if successful would become the first Asian country to do so. Founded in 1982, the...

The historic ruling could have a massive impact for LGBTI civil servants in Hong Kong A gay, married civil servant has won a landmark court case to receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples. In 2015 Leung Chun-kwong sued his long-time employer the Civil Service Bureau and the commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department because they did not recognise his marriage. The Tax Department also refused to recognize their nuptials. Leung married his partner of 10 years, Adam Scott, in New Zealand...

'We believe, every person should have the right to get married' The month of February will host a new drive to push for LGBTI equality in Hong Kong. A coalition of Hong Kong LGBTI organisations launched the #justsayyes marriage equality campaign alongside cosmetics company Lush. The campaign is urging the Hong Kong government to legalise same-sex marriage. Currently there are no anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTI people but there has been a groundswell of support for LGBTI issues in the Chinese territory. Lush said it...

Thousands took to the streets of Hong Kong for its annual pride parade. Thousands of people came together at Hong Kong pride today to call for equality and danced their way through the city which has been been criticised for lagging behind other Asia hubs for LGBT rights. Organisers of the event claimed that 6,800 people took part while the city’s police state only 2,500. Speaking to the Korea Held, Ray Chan, one of Hong Kong’s first gay lawyers, said: “After decades,...

This past Saturday was the date of the annual Gay Pride festival in Hong Kong. Last year, the festival was also attended by the Occupy activists as well. It was felt that linking the political democratic tone of the Occupy movement and a gay rights agenda was not universally accepted.  However, what did happen is the Occupy activists supported the call for equality in gay rights. The support from Occupy was not only in words and action, but also...