07/17/2007
Hong Kong Court Rules Public Gay Sodomy Law Discriminatory
Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal today dismissed an appeal by the government to prosecute two men for engaging in public sodomy, saying the 1991 law "does not criminalize heterosexuals for the same or comparable conduct."
The Associated Press reports: "The case stemmed from the prosecution of two men who acknowledged committing sodomy in a car parked on an isolated road at night, the ruling said. Public gay sex was a crime with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. After the two men challenged the charges, lower courts ruled in their favor, but the government appealed to Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal. A panel of five top judges unanimously dismissed the government's appeal."
This is the second gay sodomy case that has been unsuccessfully defended by the government in the last two years.
The laws, however, still need to be repealed. Said Hong Kong gay activist Cho Man-kit: "The government has no way to avoid amending the law now that the court has ruled unanimously against it."
Hong Kong court rejects gay sodomy law [ap via boston globe]
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 2:45 PM EST by Andy in Hong Kong, News | Permalink
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How can sex "in a car parked on an isolated road at night" be considered "public"?
Posted by: Jonathon | Jul 17, 2007 2:55:01 PM
What the hell is "gay sodomy"? Some of these terms the media creates. How about "gay adultery"? How many of y'all have committed "gay fornication"? And don't forget about "gay rape"! I guess the gay rapist attacks his victims while playing Judy Garland hits on his Ipod. And folks in the press are supposed to be edumacated.
Posted by: Derrick from PHilly | Jul 17, 2007 3:27:22 PM
"Hong Kong gay activist Cho Man-kit"? Um, that's funny.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Jul 17, 2007 8:20:59 PM
One more country proving itself to be more civilized than the United States.
For shame.
Posted by: bamjaya | Jul 17, 2007 9:48:57 PM
@BAMJAYA
I hope you were being sarcastic.
Posted by: Seann | Jul 17, 2007 10:52:53 PM
Bamjaya,
The Peoples Republic of China is "more civilized" than the United States?
I hope, for your sake, that you're not that stupid. And I'm saying this as a person who has been all over the Pacific Rim on business.
No Asian country is particularly pro-gay.
Japan and Thailand are probably the most tolerant of homosexual acts, but not of being gay as an identity. Although there's absolutely no proscription against gay sex as sinful, these are also very conformist societies. You're expected to marry and have kids, regardless of whether you're gay or not. It's also expected that you'll have male lovers on the side. However, demanding legal rights for your male lovers or anti-discrimination laws based on your "sexual orientation" is simply not done.
Posted by: John | Jul 18, 2007 1:55:21 PM