Marriage equality approval in Taiwan celebrated by Hong Kong LGBT+ community as they remember victims of homophobia

Pink Alliance, an umbrella group of Hong Kong LGBT organisations, has staged “an evening of solidarity” for victims of homophobia — some of whom committed suicide — while celebrating the Taiwan’s approval of same-sex marriage from today.

Benita Chick of Pink Alliance said in a press release the anti-homophobia event was held in Chater Gardens last Friday (17 May)  as news was coming through that Taiwan would allow gays and lesbians to marry from 24 May. The aim of the Chater Gardens event was to support people who had suffered from homophobia, transphobia or biphobia. In some of the saddest cases intolerance has led to suicide.

Benita wrote events in the Gardens included:

• Sharing by Queer Reads Library and transgender activists Henry Tse and Marietta Balaoro and intersex activist Small Luk.
• Performances including a belly dance and songs by lesbian Nokya Ma, gay band Hi-5 and LGBTI+ choir The Harmonics and Dragjam.
• Suicide victims were commemorated by an LED light vigil

Ricky Chu Man-kin, Chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, spoke at the event. A gay listener said the crowd was heartened by what he had to say.

Benita wrote the Gardens event was “part of a series of events aiming to educate the public and increase their understanding of lesbians, gays, transsexuals and queer people. This year the focus is on biphobia, i.e. people who have an irrational fear of those who identify as bisexual”. The event is part of an international series dubbed IDAHOT (International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia).

Pink Alliance has been holding a series of talks at a Catholic school and bisexual movie screenings. It has also hosted Sam Brinton, the nuclear scientist who speaks against anti-gay conversion therapy. “There are many challenges in Hong Kong from the lack of anti-discrimination legislation and substandard protection provided by existing gender recognition law and same-sex marriage legislation.”

Approval of same-sex marriage in Taiwan from today follows a Constitutional Court ruling in 2017 giving the Legislature two years to change marriage laws. The Court ruled that Taiwanese had the constitutional right to equality and freedom to marry.