In Hong Kong, a historic event unfolded as 10 LGBTQ couples exchanged vows in a mass wedding. However, their joy was tinged with the absence of legal recognition in their own city.In Hong Kong, a historic event unfolded as 10 LGBTQ couples exchanged vows in a mass wedding. However, their joy was tinged with the absence of legal recognition in their own city. The couples traveled 7,500 miles to Utah, where a registrar virtually officiated the ceremony via video call. Despite the unconventional setup, the ballroom wedding was a heartfelt celebration for Daisy Ko and Dark Chan, who had yearned for this moment. “This was my promise to her, and today we did it,” Chan expressed. “I’m excited and very happy.” Although support for same-sex marriage in Hong Kong has grown in recent years, reaching 60%, the city still lacks legal recognition. Following a landmark court ruling that called for greater protections for LGBTQ couples, there has been an increased desire for marriage among the community. “There has never been a mass LGBTQ wedding in Hong Kong before… (The event) is important for the community,” said Kurt Tung, co-organizer. Lucas Peng, a newlywed businessman, expressed his hopes for broader acceptance. “I hope that one day everyone will accept that love is not just between men and women.” Hong Kong’s High Court rejected same-sex marriage in 2022, but gave the government two years to establish an alternative legal framework, such as civil partnerships. However, no public consultation has yet taken place. Despite the lack of policy changes, Tung notes an uptick in LGBTQ couples seeking marriage. Her wedding planning company has seen a significant increase in inquiries, moving from 10 weddings per year to nearly 100. “Couples used to ask me, what’s the point of marriage?” Tung explains. “Nowadays, they’re thinking about where to get married.” While the legal status of same-sex couples who marry abroad is evolving, some rights are still contested by the government. Activists hope that a new legal framework will provide comprehensive protections. Newlywed Chan hopes that Hong Kong will eventually recognize same-sex marriage, granting spouses legal status to care for each other. “Besides confirming our love, the marriage certificate is a very important legal document, should anything go wrong,” she said. Liam Mak, a transgender marriage candidate, believes that marriage should be for all. “Ideally, marriage does not have to be divided into same-sex or opposite-sex marriages. Marriage is marriage.”
When 10 LGBTQ couples from Hong Kong tied the knot in a hotel ballroom, it looked like a mass wedding. The only difference was that the registrar was 7,500 miles away.
The Chinese city does not recognize gay marriage and the newlyweds had to officially register their marriage in the United States, with the registrar attending via video call from Utah.
For Daisy Ko and Dark Chan, their wedding last Tuesday, despite the fact that it came with fewer rights than heterosexual couples, was the fulfillment of a dream they had been dreaming about for years.
“This was my promise to her and today we did it… I’m excited and very happy,” Chan, 45, told AFP.
Support for gay marriage in Hong Kong has increased over the past decade, reaching 60 percent last year, according to a survey by three universities.
More LGBTQ couples in Hong Kong are interested in getting married after a landmark court ruling last year called for greater protections for the rights of same-sex couples, organisers of the ‘Pride to Wed’ event said on Tuesday.
Co-organizer Kurt Tung said the event was intended as a joyful occasion to be shared with family and friends, as well as a way to raise public awareness.
“There has never been a mass LGBTQ wedding in Hong Kong before… (The event) is important for the community,” said Tung, co-founder of an LGBTQ wedding planning company.
“I hope that one day everyone will accept that love is not just between men and women,” said businessman Lucas Peng, 66, after marrying his long-term partner.
“The fact that we can publicly declare our love for each other today is a very important step for us.”
Peng referred to the Thai Senate’s decision this month to legalize same-sex marriage and said he hopes Hong Kong and his native Singapore will follow suit.
– ‘Choices’ for everyone –
Hong Kong’s High Court rejected gay marriage in September last year, but gave the government two years to set up an alternative framework – possibly in the form of civil partnerships – to recognise the rights of gay couples.
The government was conducting a “comprehensive study” of the complex issues, a top minister said last month, although no public consultation has yet been announced.
According to Tung, there was a spike in LGBTQ couples seeking marriage after the court ruling, despite the lack of immediate policy changes.
According to Tung, couples needed a private and comfortable environment where they could feel at ease. At the same time, homophobia remains a problem in the Hong Kong hospitality industry.
Her company, founded in 2018, used to host about 10 weddings a year, but now does closer to 100. 30 couples had signed up for Tuesday’s mass wedding.
“Couples used to ask me, what’s the point of marriage?” Tung said. “Nowadays, they’re thinking about where to get married.”
On Tuesday, the 20 attendees stood at the front of the ballroom as the Utah wedding officiant, seen on a large screen, conducted the ceremony.
Utah has become popular among the LGBTQ community because only the registrar needs to be in the state and wedding ceremonies can be held online.
Same-sex couples who are legally married abroad enjoy limited rights in Hong Kong, including tax, visas, housing and inheritance. This is the result of years of legal battles.
Some of these rights are still contested by the government and activists hope that the new legal framework can protect these rights in a more comprehensive way.
Newlywed Chan hopes that Hong Kong will one day allow same-sex marriage, giving spouses legal status to care for each other.
“Besides confirming our love, the marriage certificate is a very important legal document, should anything go wrong,” she said.
Liam Mak, a transgender marriage candidate, said marriage should be for everyone.
“Ideally, marriage does not have to be divided into same-sex or opposite-sex marriages. Marriage is marriage.”
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