Homosexuality in Hong Kong:
How Gay Men and Lesbians have united for Greater Equality
Whitney Cross
Anthropology 350
Social Change in Asia
Fall 2004
The College of William and Mary
Main Thesis:
The definition of homosexuality is “a sexual attraction to the members of the
same sex.” Societal attitudes toward homosexuality have varied across centuries,
personalities, and cultures. However, more often than not, homosexuality has created
conflict, confusion, and negative emotions. Until fairly recently, many societies have
considered homosexuality to be a psychological disorder because it was seen to be such
an unnatural phenomenon. Persecution of homosexuals has been common and
homosexuality has been seen by many religious groups to be a sin against humanity.
Beginning in the 20th, gay rights movements, as part of the broader civil rights
movements, have led to changes in social acceptance and in the media portrayal of
homosexuality. In Hong Kong, male homosexual behavior was illegal before 1991, with
the maximum sentence being life imprisonment. Since then, the Legislative Council has
decriminalized homosexuality, but has turned down attempts at anti-discrimination
legislation in 1993 and 1997.
In my paper, I wish to explore how homosexuality has been affected by the
decriminalization in 1990; including how homosexual’s lives have changed, what gay
groups have been formed, and what these groups and organizations are doing to call for
more gay rights. I also wish to investigate what the people of Hong Kong think about
homosexuality and if their views have changed since the decriminalization of
homosexuality and with the change of time and culture. What is the general consensus
among the Hong Kong people concerning same-sex partners? What is the real life of
homosexuals (the minority) in Hong Kong? The third main question I would like research
has to do with the challenges and biases homosexuals face in everyday life. Do
homosexuals face biases often? If so, how do they deal with discrimination?
Possible hypotheses that I would like to prove include: Gay men and lesbians
face biases, but do not let these discriminations discourage them from homosexual
behavior. Homosexuals work very hard to prevent discrimination and would like to see
many more gay rights. Within the population of Hong Kong, there are many more people
who reject homosexuality than there are people who accept it.
Introduction:
The objective of this research is to examine how the gay community is a part of
and how it interacts with civil society. Civil society, as a general definition, refers to the
arena of uncoerced collective action around shared interests, purposes and values. In
theory, its institutional forms are distinct from those of the state, family, and market.
However, in practice, the boundaries between state, civil society, family and market are
often complex, blurred, and negotiated. Civil societies are often populated by
organizations, community and nongovernmental groups, faith-based organizations,
coalition and advocacy groups, and social movements. The organization, success, and
future of a civil society depends on the extent to which people can express their opinions
and discuss them in a reasonable way. This expression of ideas is independent from state
and corporate power. To meet this course objective, I would like to observe how
homosexuality, one group in this civil society, plans to expand and try to increase gay
rights for the future of its group, and for the future of this part of civil society. After my
research is done, I hope to expose conflicts, problems, aspirations, and the future of this
group, which is steadily becoming more and more aggressive in civil society.
Method:
In the context of civil society, my goal is to research the general beliefs and
understandings about homosexuals in Hong Kong society. I plan to research historical
developments, such as significant events and transitions within this group. I wish to
explore the process of decriminalization and see how this change in government has
affected homosexuality. Opposing and supporting views will be examined, while
conceptions believed by the Hong Kong people will be exposed. While in Hong Kong, I
hope to determine the views of primary sources (homosexuals), and secondary sources
(non-homosexuals who would know about the topic, such as experts on homosexuality,
and the general public) mainly through the use of interviews, questionnaires and/or
surveys, and observation. By using interviews and data collection (through surveys), I
hope to understand more about different aspects of this relatively uncommon (the study
of homosexuality is very rare at schools and universities) and misinterpreted topic.
In my interviews, I plan to learn more about the history, present, and future of
Hong Kong gay men and lesbians. Since gay men have very little knowledge of the
government and the political structure of society, I plan to interview a few to determine
how they are planning on receiving more rights if they don’t look to the government. In
addition, I am interested in learning about the lifestyles of homosexuals, especially
concerning the discreetness in which they must act as homosexuals and the shame their
sexuality brings to their families. To determine specific details of the lives of
homosexuals as compared to the lives of non-homosexuals, I plan on utilizing the life
histories of the gay men and women whom I interview.
As a pre-trip preparation, over November and December, I will continue to work
on this design, as the dates and times to specific interviews are not yet final, nor are the
people and groups who I wish to interview. As of now, I am still searching for gay men to
interview and organizations to commit to certain days. I do believe that by early to mid -
December, my two partners’ designs, as well as my design will be more accurate than it
is now. This general timeline that I have created will provide a framework for what I
propose to do the eight days that I will be researching and interviewing in Hong Kong.
Also during November and December, I will read Foucault (as suggested to me by
Professor DJ Hatfield) to learn more about the principles and concepts of homosexuality.
After I arrive to Hong Kong on the 5th, I plan to rest, get to know my partners, and
get accustomed to the time difference. I also plan to call the experts who, as of now do
not know their exact schedules for January, and are therefore not yet able to set up an
interview, but who told me to contact them when I arrive in Hong Kong, for they would
try very hard to include me in their schedules. On the 6th - 7th, I plan to tour Hong Kong,
talk with the average Hong Kong citizens, and hand out brief surveys (ones that citizens
would be able to complete in a few minutes), which will ask questions about their overall
views and ideas concerning homosexuality, if their ideas have changed since
decriminalization, what they think the lives of homosexuals are like, based on what they
have seen, and one or two questions related to their life, such as their occupation, their
age, and how (and if) religion has shaped their ideas about homosexuality. Meanwhile, I
will talk to them, bring a tape recorder, and take notes on enlightening and informative
things they say. Also, my partners are trying very hard to contact Dr. Petula, a professor
from the social work department who is a specialist in the homosexuality field named. On
January 8, I plan to meet up with a few gay men (currently trying to contact them) and a
gay lesbian, Franco Lai, who used to be the leader of “Tongzhi Culture Society,” a
lesbian organization in Hong Kong, for an interview. I will ask questions relating to their
life histories, their feelings on being gay, what rights they would like to obtain for
homosexuality, what problems they face, how they deal with biases against them, what
misconceptions the public has about them, and just overall, how they live (do they go to
gay bars or bathhouses for a social life? If so, how often?, are they satisfied with their
lives?, how do their families feel about their homosexuality?) Again, I will bring my tape
recorder, take notes, and share comments.
On the 9th -10th of January, I plan to visit Rainbow Action, Over the Rainbow,
The Ten Percent Club, the Chi Heng Foundation, and the Hong Kong University Gay and
Lesbians society, all of which are gay organizations dedicated to greater rights and less
discrimination for homosexuals. I plan to interview these groups about their concerns,
goals, and ways in which they counsel and aid homosexuals. Lastly, on the 11th-12th of
January, I intend to interview Mr. Martin Lee, of the Legislative Council, and Mr. K.K.
Kwok (who was an expert who told me to get in touch with him when I come to Hong
Kong), also of the Legislative Council. Since these are very busy men who may not have
time to do an interview, my partners have also agreed to take me to gay bars to observe
the homosexual culture and to talk to the gay men and lesbians and take notes. During
these two days, I also am allowing plenty of time to discuss and compile interviews, data,
and observations for our slide presentations, which my partners and I will present the
following day, January 13.
This schedule is tentative and may change, according to the availability of the
people whom I wish to interview. Overall, though, it describes the plan I wish to
implicate to make this research project a success. Throughout these days, any additional
time will also be left to relax and to enjoy the experience of a new and exciting place and
culture.
Conclusion
After reading articles and books about this topic, I have realized a major point
concerning homosexuality and how homosexuality has changed in Hong Kong that seems
to explain much about this minority group. Homosexuals aren’t interested in the
government, not many go to vote, and few participate in protests for gay rights. Because
the main issues to a Hong Kong citizen include family and culture, rather than sexuality
and politics, they have always felt that their homosexuality would bring about shame to
their families. This feeling that they are unsuitable has caused them to be quiet and
discrete. However, recently gay politics has become much more confrontational and
insistent. Several organizations have formed to outlaw sexual discrimination and more
homosexuals have become involved in rights for equality. This research will show how
homosexuals in Hong Kong, as homosexuals in many other cultures have done, are
beginning to call for social rights and fairness, in a civil society that has just recently
recognized their rights to decriminalization.
Contact Addresses:
Dr. Petula, S.Y. Ho, Associate Professor, Room 131 K.K. Leung Building, HKU.
Phone: (852)2859-2091, e-mail psycho@hkucc.hku.hk
Miss Franco Lai (phone interview while in Hong Kong/ maybe visit- currently do not
know address, e-mailed her today)- 96204887
Mr. Martin Lee (Legislative Council) Room 704 A, Tower I, Admiralty Centre,
18 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong
Office number: 2529 0864
Mr. K.K. Kwok (LegCo)Room 426,West Wing, Central Government Offices, HK
Office telephone: 2537 1379/ 2537 1379
Rainbow action:
Flat 627 7/F, Diamond Building
627 Shang Hai Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon Hong Kong
Over the Rainbow:
8/F Century House 3-4 Hanoi Rd. Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong phone:2940-2728)
Ten Percent Club:
P.O. Box 72207, Kowloon Central Post Office
HKU Gay and Lesbians Society: (no address yet, my partners are trying to locate) phone
number: 7728-0738.
Chi Heng Foundation:
G.P.O. Box 3923, Central, HK, phone number: (852) 25170564
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