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Of course, being Chinese and living in a community where traditional mores are valued heavily (more than Western countries), majority of Hong Kong people are not entirely supportive of same-sex relationship, not to mention about marriage. However, there is an increase in openly lesbian couples nowadays (notice its only lesbian and not gay), often found in local same-sex high schools. What's weird to me is that even though holding hands and displaying intimacy between females are now commonly found on the streets and somewhat accepted in society, most people still tend to not fully acknowledge and rather keep a blind's eye to it. A friend of mine, who has a romantic relationship with another girl, once told me that even though her mother does know her sexual orientation and her girlfriend, it is an issue that never came up in conversation. There is a positive change towards gay liberation in Hong Kong, but does a change without full acknowledgement a successful one? Perhaps it's because Chinese's tendency to sweep all of the problems under table and pretend everything is alright. But it's time we step out of the square and really recognize this social movement undergoing globally.
I'm proud to be one of the one thousand participants in Hong Kong's 2nd annual gay pride parade. Even though there was a lack of organization and support from the community, we managed to press our demand for equal rights by marching through the central business district and advocating the need for acceptance. It'll be a long way to go before Hong Kong sees the liberation (or even recognition) of local gay community, but I have faith that it is an achievable goal for us.
Here I'll leave you a series of photos of the gay pride parade I was involved in:
Yes, that's me in the middle, holding the smaller flag.
My friends and I (top right corner) ready for the march.
Pictures I took from the parade.
Wow, the pictures are amazing! I agree with you, we must stop hiding it "under the table" and just accept it completely. It is great to know that there is some progress being made in Hong Kong. Yes, there is still a long way to go before complete liberation, but this parade proved a lot. It is incredible to see that your participation made a difference. Thank you for sharing your culture with us and for inspiring us to take action! Keep us updated on the progression made in Hong Kong. (I am really interested!)
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