It may have escaped your feed, considering other newsworthy events occurring this week, but June is World Pride Month.
Commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Riots in Manhattan, one of the most important events in the fight for LGBTI rights in the United States, Pride Month often falls off the radar for folks in Hong Kong. Even though we enjoy many freedoms, we have a long way to go in our march towards equality. Just last week, for example, our new head of the Equal Opportunity Commission, Ricky Chu, said that devoting resources to studying the effects of legalising same-sex marriage would be ‘impractical’. Government lawyer Stewart Wong somehow one-upped that gem by saying that marriage would ‘no longer [be] special’ if same-sex couples were allowed to wed, as reported by the Hong Kong Free Press.
While our leadership may be stuck in Neolithic Age when it comes to LGBTI rights, the people of Hong Kong aren’t waiting around for them to act.
Throughout June, Time Out Hong Kong is celebrating Pride Month by shining the spotlight on the people who are advancing the movement for LGBTI rights and reminding us all that love is love. We will also be taking a look at some of the burning issues affecting the LGBTI community, from equality in the kitchen to the right to be recognised without prejudice.
Something on your mind, have a story to share? Chime in and let us know what’s on your mind.