Tag Archives: Hong Kong

British Lesbian Loses Battle With Hong Kong Government Over Spousal Visa

A British lesbian has lost a legal challenge against Hong Kong authorities to grant her a visa to live and work there with her partner. The move is seen as setback for the LGBT equality in the territory.

QT, as she is referred to in court, entered into a civil partnership in Britain in 2011 and moved to Hong Kong the same year, after her partner was offered a job in the city.

But she was denied a dependent visa and has instead stayed in Hong Kong on a visitor visa, which does not allow her to work.

The Chinese city – which socially conservative – does not recognise same-sex marriage and only decriminalised homosexuality in 1991.

High Court judge Thomas Au said in a written judgement

The applicant has failed in her grounds in support of this judicial review, I therefore dismiss the application. To effectively accept a same-sex-marriage-like relationship to be equivalent to a married status in Hong Kong is not permissible under the laws of Hong Kong as they now stand.”

Immigration law in the former British colony does not explicitly mention same-sex couples, but states that only the “spouse” of a person permitted to work in the territory may apply for a dependent visa.

At a court hearing in May of last year, the government’s counsel Stewart Wong said that “marriage can only be heterosexual.”

QT, with her solicitors, Vidler & Co. responding via their Facebook page.

After a long nine month wait, the High Court has today handed down a judgment against QT’s judicial review of the Immigration Department’s policy refusing to recognize foreign registered same sex marriages.

This decision, whilst disappointing, is not altogether unexpected. Experience has shown us with previous LGBTI cases (the W case being the most recent) that we often have to turn to the Court of Appeal or even the Court of Final Appeal for a correct judgment.

QT is a strong young woman who is determined to continue the fight to ensure that all people who have shown their love for one another by registering a civil partnership or marriage, are treated equally by the HK government, irrespective of their sexual orientation.

She intends to appeal.”

Out Leadership, a global business advocacy group for LGBTI rights, called the ruling ‘disappointing’, tweeting that ‘this will impact HK’s talent pool.’

Fern Ngai, CEO of Community Business said in a statment,

The High Court’s judgment in the QT case today is disappointing and a backward step for LGBTI rights in Hong Kong.

This should be a cause for concern by the business sector, which aims to attract the world’s best talent to Hong Kong, a regional hub for international financial, legal and professional services.

We hope that the decision is appealed and overturned, and that the business sector, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders make their views on this issue loud and clear.”

LGBT Workplace Index Looks to Promote Diversity in Hong Kong

While the topic of marriage equality may get most of the LGBT rights spotlight and while chants of ‘love is love!’ are practically deafening, many have expressed concern, stating that there are many more pressing matters.

One such matter is the topic of workplace equality. Not only do many countries fail to protect their LGBT worked from workplace discrimination, in many countries around the world it is still very much legal for LGBT workers just to be fired because of their identity.

This is an incredibly scary thought for those having to hide their identities for fear of being fired and something needs to be done. Now, the city of Hong Kong is picking up the mantel, introducing something that they call the ‘LGBT Workplace Index’.

Launched by Community Business, an NGO, the idea of the LGBT Workplace Index is to asses how business fair in terms of LGBT inclusivity. The index takes several factors into consideration including advocacy, diversity structure and if (and how) equal opportunities are offered to everybody.

Hong Kong businesses have until February, 2015 to submit entries and the idea is that following the cut off point, awards will be doled out to companies big and small which have done the most. Some awards include LGBT Network of the year, LGBT Inclusion Champion of the Year, and LGBT Executive Sponsor of the Year which will only be given to those with the highest marks.

The LGBT Workplace Index won’t just praise those who are doing well either, as according to LGBT activist Brian Leung it will also be “a great opportunity for LGBTI professionals and allies to get together to drive LGBTI inclusion forward in Asia”. Meanwhile, Community Business CEO Fern Ngai added that this will help “not only LGBTI, but in general a workplace environment that embraces diversity”.

Hopefully, by reassessing the index every two years, companies will have a chance to improve their score. In a 2011/12 LGBT Climate Study, 71% of LGBT employees said that they weren’t open about their sexualities so hopefully measures like this will allow for a more honest, open and inclusive workplace culture.

September Sees 25th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

September see’s the 25th anniversary of the HKGLFF, making it the longest standing gay & lesbian film festival in Asia. To celebrate this birthday, HKGLFF has chosen the theme of Mature+ and have curated films that explore senior LGBT members of society.

To open the festival ‘Love Is Strange’ and ‘Life Partners’ will be screened.

Love is Strange

‘Love is Strange’ explores a Manhattan couple who have been together for decades and finally tie the knot, before things start to go wrong.

Life Partners

‘Life Partners’ is about the relationship of two codependent best friends, Sasha and Paige, one lesbian and one straight.

The Way He Looks

This year’s closing film is Brazilian film, 64th Berlin Film Festival Teddy Award Best Film winner ‘The Way He Looks’.

Anita’s Last Cha-Cha

Another closing film is ‘Anita’s Last Cha-Cha’ from the Philippines, about a 12 year-old little girl named Anita having her first innocent girl crush.

For the first time in HKLGFF history, a section of the festival will be dedicated to documentaries. Including the award-winning film ‘Regarding Susan Sontag’, a documentary on one of the most provocative and influential thinkers of the past century, and ‘Campaign of Hate: Russia and Gay Propaganda’, which reveals the reality in the Russian gay community.

Regarding Susan Sontag

Campaign of Hate: Russia and Gay Propaganda

The HKLGFF also sees the presentation of the Prism award which is presented to an individual as recognition of their contribution to the gay community. This year, HKLGFF proudly presents the award to Dr. Travis Kong, author and prominent sociologist in the area of Chinese sexualities.

Red Ribbon Centre (RCC) and HKLGFF have been close working partners throughout the years, and this year RCC presents 2 Scandinavian short films: The Circle and Nomansland. In addition, RCC will present For Love, We Can – a local short film that has now received over 300,000 views on Youtube. RCC will also be holding a photo exhibition named Be Negative at The Broadway Cinematheque, to promote prevention of Hepatitis C and HIV.