Queer Liberation in PostColonial Hong Kong

This talk is about historical development and the current debates of LGBT movement in Hong Kong, a city under the intersecting influences of British Colonial history and traditional Chinese culture in Asia. Same-sex sexual behaviour between men was criminalised in 1865 and decriminalised in 1990, under the British governance. However, there is no anti-discrimination ordinance to protect sexual minorities from discrimination. Same-sex marriage or civil unions have not been recognised in Hong Kong. Although there is a shift toward acceptance of sexual minorities from the general public, especially among youngsters, there is still a strong and vocal opposition with the discourses of religious freedom and traditional Chinese family values.

This talk examines the dramatic changes in public attitudes toward sexual minorities in Hong Kong in the last 20 years, under the intersection effects of culture, legal, political attitudes and global changes. Also, the latest report in 2016 about LGBTI people’s discriminatory experience and anti-discrimination ordinance debates in the society will be introduced. Finally, the talk will lead to the discussion of current debates of LGBT movement in Hong Kong and its influences on other Asian countries.