First Pride Parade In Hong Kong
It may not have had the glitz and glamour of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, but Hong Kong’s gay pride parade last weekend was just as historic. On December 13 just over 1000 people gathered in the streets of Hong Kong for the first ever public celebration of queer identity in the country. During the parade, which lasted several hours, traffic was stopped and people watched at the parade moved around the city spreading its rainbow coloured message of love to the people.
While there were spectators who stood and cheered, many people emerged from shops and restaurants to simply stare in amazement. “I never thought I would see this in Hong Kong,” said Kevin Li, a salesman who nevertheless believes the younger generation is less homophobic than the older one. “Our society has different values than the West regarding sex because we are more traditional and more Chinese.”
The parade was co-organized by Rainbow of Hong Kong, Midnight Blue, Social Movement Resource Centre and the Women Coalition, with support from groups working on a myriad of issues, including civil rights, HIV/AIDS education and transgender awareness. These organisations are extremely important in a country that lacks any ordinance regarding homophobic discrimination and views homosexuality with such unease.
With the parade capturing the attention of citizens and media in Hong Kong and abroad, we can only hope that it marks a positive first step for public recognition and awareness of Hong Kong’s gay community.
Your Thoughts
To post a comment, you need to be a SameSame Member
GenesisInVain
said ages ago